
;i^^ h(oO(o 



Clas 
Book. 



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GopyiiglitK^?- 



COFfRiGirr DKPOsm 



®i)e ^torp of jWinnes^ota 




By GRACE EMERY 

AND 

RHODA J. EMERY 



COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR 

First Edition, 1916 






PREFACE 

This book is an attempt to interest the children of Min- 
-nesota in the history of their own great state by presenting 
to them a series of her stories arranged in a eontinuons nar- 
rative. For our material, we are indebted to the valuable 
collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, including 
histories of Minnesota by Folwell, Flandreau, Niell, Folsom, 
Castle, Upham, Holcombe and Winchell. 



OCT 30 1916 



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•CROOKSTON 



XOWER* 



0" JD^ <^ • EVEL.ETH <?-' 



♦ r^OORMEAD 



ULUTH 



BIG STO 




FERGUS FALL 
>BRECKIN RIDGE 



L..TRAVE 






ST. F^ETER 



« FAIRIBAUL.T 



V.O >^ ^^ V^f" OWATONNA* ROCHESTER J 

•UACKSON • •AUSTIN J* 



torp of iflmnes^ota 



CHAPTER I 

GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATE 



NAME Minnesota is an Indian name meaning "tur- 

bid-water." This name was originally given 
to the Minnesota Eiver and, in 1849, it was applied by Con- 
gress to the newly organized territory. When the state was 
admitted in 1858, the name was retained. 



SIZE ]\Iinnesota is the tenth state of the Union in 

size. Its combined land and water surface is 
87,196 square miles, including that part of Lake Superior 
within the state. The land surface alone is 80,858 square 
miles. 

The least width (from Stillwater, near the mouth of 
the St. Croix Eiver, westward to the Dakota boundary) is 

—5-- 



about 180 miles; while the greatest width, which is in the 
northern j^art of the state, is about 350 miles. The great- 
est length from north to south including the projection into 
Lake of the Woods, is 408 miles. 

LOCATION The "Xorth Star State" lies between 43° 
30' and 49° 23' north latitude. The lati- 
tude of Duluth is about that of Vienna, Austria, while that 
of St. Paul, and Venice, Italy, are the same. Its situa- 
tion in the heart of the continent on the crest of the Great 
Central Plain, and freedom from mountain barriers were 
primary advantages in the settlement and growth of this 
prosperous state. 

SURFACE The surface of Minnesota is a rolling plain 
diversified by moraine hills, valleys, nnd ridges 
of rock. Its elevation varies from 602 feet, near Lake !Su- 
perior, to 2,230 feet in the Misquah Hills, Cook County. Its 
average altitude is 1,200 feet. 

CLIMATE Although its temperature ranges from 30° 

below zero in winter to 90° or 100° above 
zero in summer, the state has a most healthful and invig- 
orating climate. The mean annual rainfall is about 30 
inches and, as this occurs during the growing season, it is 
sufficient to assure the farmer of an abundant crop. The 
large lake area has a considerable influence in tempering the 
climate. This is most appreciable near Lake Superior. 

FORESTS Originally, over half of Minnesota was cov- 

ered with forests of pine, spruce, tamarack, 
cedar, birch, basswood, oak, poplar, ash, elm, cottonwooci, 
maple, and butternut. A large share of this timber was 
found in the northern counties. Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Itas- 
ca, Beltrami, and Koochiching. The new settlers found ex- 
cellent timber in abundance from which to build their log 
houses, and make homes in this wilderness. 



FISH AND Minnesota lakes, streams, and forests 
(7AM£ abounding in fish and game supplied a large 

share of the food and clothing of the In- 
dians and early white settlers. 

Deer, moose, beaver, bear, badger, fox, lynx, sable, rac- 
coon, skunk, mink, muskrat, wolf, and wild cats were found 
in great numbers. 

The buffalo that roamed the plains in herds are now 
extinct, but the other animals are still represented. 

BIRDS Minnesota woods afforded a real paradise for 
song birds while game birds as duck, geese, 
prairie chicken and partridges' were also found in abun- 
dance. 

RIVERS AND As early explorers entered the coun- 

ACCESSIBILITY try by way of its lakes and streams, 
the location proved of peculiar sig- 
nificance. Within its boundaries is the highest part of the 
Great Plain lying between Hudson Bay and the Gulf of 
Mexico. 

We find here the sources of three great river systems, 
the Red Eiver of the T^orth, the St. Lawrence, and the Miss- 
issipi. Their tributaries permeate every section of the 
state and, leading in different directions, make the country 
easy of access. In its later development, they became im- 
portant commercial highways. 

The native red men and the early white explorers, mis- 
sionaries and fur-traders, in their light birch canoes, trav- 
ersed the streams through the wild, wooded region of north- 
ern Minnesota and its southern undulating prairiesi. 

Besides her extensive river systems, Minnesota has about 
10,000 lakes, 8,000 of which are over a mile wide. The largest 
lakes are Red, Leech and Mille Lacs. These add scenic 
beauty to the state and furnish attractive summer resorts. 

SOIL iSTo state in the Union has a soil surpassing that 
of Minnesota in the high percent of plant food it 

—7— 



contains. The combination of glacial soil brought from north 
and east with its own rock soil made a thick layer, rich in its 
variety of mineral matter, and free from alkali and other 
injurious soil elements. 

The southeastern part of the state, known as the drift- 
less area, was untouched by the glacier; its principal soil 
is a most fertile clay loam of light yellow color. 

The Red Eiver valley has a particularly productive soil 
owing to the mixture of decayed animal and plant life with 
a fine rock dust. 



-8— 



CHAPTER II 

INDIANS 

EARLY As you travel by automobile or the 

INHABITANTS swift passenger train from the cut- 

over pine and swamp lands of north- 
ern Minnesota, through the beautiful lake region and its 
southern rolling prairies, across streams with steel arched or 
cement bridges, past cities and towns whose prosperity is 
rivalled only by that of the surrounding agricultural or dairy 
districts, pause to note the changes time has wrought in the 
seventy years since our grandfathers came to the territory 
of Minnesota. 

Then this area was inhabited by savage red men of 
the Dakota and Chippewa nations. These strong races, 
each having many tribes were always at war with one an- 
other. They made their homes along the lakes and streams 
finding an easy subsistence in the game of the forest and 
the fish and wild rice of the lake regions. 

SIOUX Centuries before the discovery of America, In- 
dians, descendants of the Iroquois, followed the 
Ohio Eiver to the upper Mississippi and Missouri Elvers. 

They called themselves Dal'ot-a, meaning allies or con- 
federates; but their enemies, the Chippewas. gave them the 
hated name of Nadotvessiotix, meaning snakes or enemies. 
Sioux ifi an abbreviaton of this longer name used by traders, 
and it has served the white man ever since. There were 
seven councils or tribes of this powerful nation; prominent 

—9— 



among them were the Yanktons, Sissetons, and Mende Wah- 
kantoan. 

These Sioux tribes spoke the same language. While 
quarrels among them were frequent, they often united to 
protect themselves against a common enemy. These In- 
dians were strong and hardy, they were good runners, skilled 
bow^men and adept riders. They owned many horses, which 
were regarded as a source of wealth to the tribe. The Sioux 
were skillful in making pottery. 

CHIPPEWAS The Ojibways, familiarly known as 
Chippewa, were not so numerous in the 
middle west as the Dakotas, but were confined mostly to the 
forests of northern Minnesota. They were always bitter en- 
emies of the Sioux, but they were not so dreaded by the 
white settlers as the other Indians. 

If you could have visited this tribe you would liave 
admired the fine appearance of the warrior. As Gilfillan 
describes him, he was often six feet, eight inches tall, with 
a well developed chest, small limbs and hands, a springy step 
and graceful, easy carriage. He had abundant hair whicli 
did not turn gray until very late in life; white, even teeth; 
and a high, resonant voice. 

The women were the burden bearers. They built the 
wigwams ; cultivated the little fields ; cut the wood ; and 
carried heavy, cumbersome packs, often made heavier by 
the addition of a lively papoose, who was strapped on the 
top. They lost their grace and agility early in life and be- 
came bent and slow; but even the overworked and tired 
squaw was artistic in the beautiful bead work which she 
wrought and sold for a slight sum. 

The Ojibways were fond of their children and loved 
their native home, from which they wandered less frequently 
than the Sioux. Besides being able to endure intense cold, 
the Chippewa could walk long distances without tiring. 
After the white settlers came, and the only means of carry- 
ing mail was by packing, an Indian was engaged to walk 

—10— 



between White Earth and Red Lake, a distance of ninety 
miles. He accomplished this journey in two and a half 
days, carrying a mail sack weighing from fifty to seventy- 
five pounds. For remuneration he received two and a half 
dollars, which he considered ample. 

DRESS The dress of the early savage was made of skins, 
ornamented with the teeth and claws of animals. 
His copper colored skin was painted and daubed with the 
juice of berries or roots; and on his coarse black hair, he 
wore a head dress of gaudy feathers. If a brave wanted to 
appear as fierce as possible, he shaved his hair leaving only 
a scalp lock. With his sharp, black eyes and high cheek 
bones, he was a foe most terrible to look upon. 

During the heat of summer, the furs and skins were 
discarded leaving his hideously painted body clad only m 
a breech clout. In later years, the skin garments gave place 
to those made of coarse cotton cloth. 

HOMES The trader, journeying from one fur station 

to another, was happy if, as night overtook 
him, he saw the smoke from an Indian wigwam; for here 
the stranger was always sure of a welcome. 

This conical wigwam was made of a number of small 
poles, set in the ground a few feet apart and joined at the 
top. It was covered by large skins so arranged as to leave 
an opening at the apex for ventilation and the exit of smoke. 
The Indian's guest did not knock or otherwise announce 
his coming, but silently lifted the tent flap and entered. 
After a long, cold journey across the uninhabited plains, ]et 
us imagine the cheerful scene before the tired and hungry 
traveler. 

In the center of the tepee, burns a bright fire, over which 
hangs a large kettle which contains the evening meal, while 
around it, sit the members of the family. The trader is 
given a place in the circle and is served a palatable and sat- 
isfying repast, consisting perhaps of a buffalo hump, or the 
tail of a beaver. 

—11— 



After supper the dishes are gathered and placed to one 
side until thej are again needed. The remainder of the 
evening is spent in listening to the news brought by the 
traveler and in jokes and merry laughter, for the Indian 
enjoys the life of his fireside. 

The little one runs al)Out the wigwam clothed only in 
a loose cotton dress, seemingly oblivious to the rigor of 
the northern winter. 

As each one grows sleepy, he wraps his single blanket 
about him and lies down with his feet toward the fire as 
happily as we do in our warm homes and comfortable beds. 
The trader with all his clothing and his blanket, shivers 
with the cold and often rises to warm himself and feed the 
dying fire. 

The Indian's manner of welcoming strangers varied in 
different tribes. If pleased to see one, they patted their 
own arms and legs and then those of the guest. Some- 
times the host w^ould rub the limbs of the visitor, probably 
to relieve him of fatigue. Some tribes showed their good 
will by washing the traveller's feet, blowing into his ears, 
scratching his shoulders, and often by kissing and hand- 
shaking. 

FOOD The natives made use of the edible plants and 
fruits found wild in the region. First among 
these were wild rice, berries and nuts. Wild rice grew very 
abundantly in the swamps and along the lake and river 
bottoms of all parts of the state. 

To harvest it, the Indians tied the heads of several 
stalks toofether in bunches, which were arranged in rows. 
Whole villages went together to the rice lakes and each fam- 
ily had a specified number of rows. 

The squaws paddled a canoe between these rows, and 
the heads of grain were beaten off on to a blanket laid in 
the bottom of the boat. The grains were then parched and 
could thus be preserved for years. 

The Indians taught the early settlers the cultivation 

—12- 



and use of the potato, tomato, beans, pumpkin, squash and 
maize. 

Maize, or Indian corn, was so easily cultivated that it 
was a staple article of food. A hill was usually selected 
as a good growing place; stone implements scratched the 
soil ; and the seed was planted. The neighboring trees were 
killed to let in the sunshine, and a good harvest usually 
resulted. It was easy to pick the ears as they were needed, 
as the stalks were left standing. 

MAPLE SUGAR The Indians were fond of maple sug- 
ar. In the cold, early spring, before 
the sap had begun to move in the trees, the clan broke camp 
and left for the maple grove. 

The braves marched proudly ahead carrying their guns 
while the squaws gathered the tent poles, wrapped the skin 
coverings carefully about them, folded the blankets and fas- 
tened all on the ponies. Then, with their papooses strapped 
on their backs, they followed. 

The Indians Avere too shiftless to provide a sufficient 
store of food for the winter, and often the spring found them 
in want. Therefore, the sugar season was anxiously awaited, 
when they became joyously active, wandering about all day, 
gathering the sap, returning to the wigwam at night, tired 
and wet, having \vaded in the melting snow and icy water. 
From this, they apparently experienced little suffering, and 
were often rewarded by several hundred pounds of the pur- 
est maple sugar. 

The game of field and forest supplied an abundance of 
animal food; the Sioux tribe was sometimes called "The Na- 
tion of the Beef" because of its dependence on the buffalo. 

BUFFALO The flesh of this animal supplied a most 

delicious food; and the milk, a drink; while 
its hide furnished clothing, covering for the wigwam, and 
strong ropes. The sinews, hair, and horns also found a use 
in the economy of savage life. 

—13— 



The Indian made great preparations for the buffalo 
hunt. In addition to the need of the game was the savage 
joy of the chase. However, until the advent of the avar- 
icious fur trader, the Indian seldom killed more animals 
than his needs demanded. 

When the brave returned with his prize, his work was 
finished. The faithful squaw, after giving her family a 
delicious repast of the fresh buffalo meat, cut the remain- 
der into thin broad slices and hung it on poles in the not 
sun for two or three days, a time sufficient for its pres- 
ervation, making the dried or jerked beef which was a com- 
mon food among the Indians. 

She then took the large green buffalo skin and, after 
stretching it out upon the ground, fastened its edges with 
strong pegs to keep it in place, and vigorously applied a 
sharp bone knife to remove all particles of flesh. Then 
she turned it and scraped off the hair as dexterously, with 
a sort of iron plane. If the hide was to be used for moc- 
casins or clothing, it was worked by the hands until soft and 
pliable. Sometimes it was smoked to make it more nearly 
waterproof although darker in color. 

LANGUAGE The Indian had only a spoken language, as 
he had no use for the written form. Dif- 
ferent bands of the same tribe spoke various dialects; while 
the languages of Sioux and Chippewa were totally unlike. 
Both w^ere figurative and rather musical. 

Our language is rich with Indian terms as tomahawk, 
wampum, squaw, papoose, succotash, toboggan, hominy, pem- 
mican, moccasin, totem, and names of native animals as rac- 
coon, wood-chuck, chip-munk, moose, caribou, oppossum, 
skunk, and many others. 

Hills, mountains, villages, cities, lakes, counties, and 
states bear names derived from the language of the lirst 
dweller. Among those most common to us are : 

Mississippi — meaning Great Eiver. 

Mankato — blue earth. 

—14— 



Winona — first Indian daughter. 
Cliaska — first Indian son. 
Minnetonka — big water. 
Minnehaha — laughing water. 
Wabasha — red battle standard. 

RELIGION The Indian race has many superstitions, and 
believes in many gods. They fear the spir- 
its of the dead and worship ghosts of men and animals. 
They are as zealous in worshipping a painted rock, a tree, 
or a turtle drawn in the sand with a stick, as they are in 
their reverence for the god of the sun, the moon, or of 
thunder. These spirits are supposed to be both good and 
evil; the former must be satisfied in order to grant the 
blessings they were able to bestow; while the latter must 
be appeased to prevent some calamity which they were cap- 
able of bringing to pass. Thus, throughout the year, their 
worshippers dutifully engaged in dances and feasts as re- 
ligious ceremonies, each having its peculiar significance. 
Among the best known are the scalp dance and the war 
(lance. 

MEDICINE Great number of ^^medicine-men," imposing 
MEN upon the superstition of the race, gained 

power among them. It is surprising that so 
keen and shrewd a nation should have been so duped by men 
skilled only in deceit and craft. 

If an Indian were sick, he immediately sent for the 
medicine-man, who came only upon the assurance of liberal 
payment. Upon his arrival, he was escorted to the tent 
where the patient lay and there, with the most ridiculous 
contortions and hideous noises, he attempted to frighten 
away the evil spirit which possessed the ill. A dry gourd 
filled with stones, served as a rattle which was kept in mo- 
tion over the body of the sufferer, and was supposed to be 
helpful but, in spite of all demonstrations, the soul of the 
afflicted often took its departure to the land of the "Great 
Spirit." 

—15— 



RELICS AND Today are found, usually along the 

INDIAN MOUNDS lakes and rivers of Minnesota, sev- 
eral thousand conical shaped earth 
mounds varying in height from one to fifteen feet. 

Writers once maintained that these mounds were built 
by a distinct race of partly civilized people, known as mound 
builders, who dwelt here before the Indians; but this theory 
has now given place to a more generally accepted one, that 
these mounds were built by the early ancestors of our Am- 
erican Indians, and that they were used by them as Durial 
places for their dead. 

The mounds which have been excavated, have been 
found to contain human bones, skulls, etc., besides beads, 
pottery, shells, and Indian relics. Many of these, including 
war clubs, peace-pipes, flint arrow heads, tomahawks, shells, 
teeth and jawbones of animals may be seen among the cur- 
ios in the museum of the State Historical Society. 

CONDITION OF The Indians of early centuiies 

INDIANS AFTER loved their native land, enjoyed 
COMING OF the streams in their bark canoes, 

WHITE MEN and roamed the forests and prairies 

whose wild birds and animals were 
as familiar to them as the domestic animals are to us. They 
were satisfied to fish and hunt only to gain food and cloth- 
ing, and supply the necessities of savage life. 

When the civilized fur-trader with his greed for wealth 
came among them, the Indians were supplied with guns and 
ammunition and taught the practice of killing for skins 
alone. The savage, having no idea of the value of money 
and being an excellent hunter and trapper, secured an abund- 
ance of pelts for the white man for very small pay. From 
this slaughter, came a scarcity of wild animals and lack of 
food for the savage tribes, which made them dependent on 
the v'hites. 

The white, careless of the degradation brought upon his 
own race through liquor, brought fire-water to the redmen. 

—16— 



His indulgence led to wild debauchery and abject poverty. 
Large numbers, sometimes whole tribes, also lost their lives 
through small-pox, measles and other diseases hitherto un- 
known among them. 



—17— 



CHAPTER III 

EARLY FRENCH EXPLORATIONS 
1608-1763 

CHAMPLAIN As most of the early explorations were 
made by means of water-ways and by 
bands of fur traders, it is not strange that Minnesota was 
entered early. The head waters of the three great river sys- 
tems of America are in the state, and their branches per- 
meate nearly every section of it. In her abundant forests of ' 
the north, thrived thousands of fur-bearing animals while 
great herds of buffalo grazed on her southern prairies. 

About the time that Jamestown was settled, and sev- 
eral years before the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, 
Samuel Champlain was made Lieutenant of New France, 
which then included the Lower St. Lawrence valley, Nova 
Scotia, and the region of Lake Champlain. 

Champlain was very ambitious. He hoped to find a 
western route to China and organized expeditions for that 
purpose. He founded the city of Q'uebec; enlarged the area 
of New France somewhat by Indian wars ; and instituted fur 
trading companies who reaped a great harvest in their trade 
with western Indian tribes. 

These early fur traders led a life of privation and hard- 
ship but one of excitement and adventure. They were called 
coureurs des hois and were often young men who had spent 
months or perhaps years, among the Indians, learning their 
languaa^e and their manner of hunting, and wood-craft. Re- 
sponsible merchants provided an outfit consisting of canoes, 

—18— 



food, ammunition, clothing and also a collection of cheap, 
tawdry articles for Indian trade; and the voyageurs set out 
into the untracked wilderness. Sometimes a trader might 
be absent a year or more; but often he came back with his 
canoe laden with valuable furs and with stirring accounts 
of the new lands he had visited. 

Champlain died in 1635, but he had accomplished much 
in creating an enthusiasm for exploration of the new coun- 
try and establishing a profitable enterprise there which con- 
tinued to expand. 

GROSSEILLIERS In 1560, two voyageurs returning from 

AND an expedition of two years, reported 

RADISSON that they had traveled far to the west 

and visited many Indian tribes, among 

them the Xadowessioux. 

It is believed that these men were Sieur des Grosseil- 
liers and Sieur des Eadisson. Their story is based on a 
manuscript supposed to be written by Eadisson and pre- 
served for over two hundred years in the library of Oxford 
University. 

According to this report, Grosseilliers and Eadisson 
traversed Minnesota from Lake Superior into Kanabec 
County. If we can believe the account, these two men were 
the first white men to visit Minnesota; however, they left no 
map to teach others their route, and they did not otherwise 
establish their claim as discoverers of the land so that their 
story, while interesting, is of no real importance to us. 

FUR TRADERS About 1660, France awakened to the 
importance of her possessions in Amer- 
ica, and New France was taken from the hands of the 
Company of N"ew France, which had hitherto managed its 
afi'airs; and it became a royal province. Frontenac was ap- 
pointed its governor in 1672. 

About this time, also, many Jesuit Fathers of France 
came to Canada hoping to convert the Indians to their faith. 

—19— 



They were men of determination and of learning and they 
contributed largely to the explorations of the French. 



Note. Marquette, in his description, gives an in- 
of the Xorthwest, a remarkable class of religious zealots, the 
Jesuits, had explored the region of the Great Lakes and 
the head waters of the Mississippi. 

These missionaries were true heroes. They left homes 
of comfort and study and cast their lot with the wandering 
tribes of Indians. They suffered toil, privation, and often 
martyrdom with unflinching courage that they might carry 
the Gospel of Christ to the savages of the wilderness. 

Williams gives us this quotation from Bishop Kip : 
"Amid the snows of Hudson^s Bay; among the woody is- 
lands and beautiful inlets of the St. Lawrence; by the 
council fires of the Hurons and of the Algonqiiins; at the 
sources of the Mississippi, where, first of all the white men, 
their eyes looked down upon the Falls of St. Anthony, and 
then traced down the course of the bounding river as it 
rushed onward to earn its title of Tather of Waters' on the 
vast prairies of Illinois and Missouri; among the blue hills 
which hem in the salubrious dwellings of the Clierokees, ana 
in the thick cane-brakes of Louisiana — evers^where were found 
the members of the Society of Jesus." 



Through the efforts of the traders and the Jesuits, the 
northern valley of the Great Lakes became comparatively 
well knoA^Ti and in 1679, a Company of Canadian traders 
conceived the idea of establishing a permanent trading post 
at the head of Lake Superior. Daniel Greyloseson, the Sieur 
DuLuth, became the first agent of that post which he lo- 
cated on the left bank of the Pigeon Eiver. Du Luth was 
therefore the first white man known to establish himself in 
Minnesota. He has a very interesting history and for 
many years he was closely associated with the story of 
Minnesota. 

—20- 



DULUTH This early promoter of French and Indian 

trade was born near Paris. He had been 
an European soldier and made several voyages to New 
France. 

In the fall of 1678, with several Frenchmen, Du Luth 
made a journey by canoe to Lake Superior. He spent two 
years here exploring and trying to secure Indian fur trade 
for the French. 

During this time, the French government made it a 
crime to engage in trade without a license from the King. 
Many of the strong and active young men in the French 
settlements along the St. Lawrence, realizing the profits to 
be made, deserted their homes to become outlaws or bush- 
rangers. They became a menace to the government, and 
this free life in the wilderness let them into many dan- 
gers. Du Luth was accused of being a leader of these de- 
serters, but he denied it and gave proofs of his fidelity to 
the government. He had great influence with the Indians, 
promoted peace among them, restricted the Indian trade 
with the English Hudson Bay Company, and tried to save 
them from the evil of intoxicating liquor. 
MARQUETTE About two hundred years prior to this 
AND time (15-il), De Sota had discovered the 

JOLIET lower Mississippi Eiver. But little im- 

portance had been given to the fact, and, 
because means of communication were few, it was probably 
not very generally known. The Indians of the Northwest 
told the Jesuits and the traders of a great river to the west- 
ward which they called Mese Seepi or "Great Eiver" and 
the French resolved to visit this stream. 

Accordingly, Joliet, once a priest but now a fur trader, 
and Marquette, a Jesuit, set out, May, 1673, with five other 
Frenchmen on an expedition for that purpose. 

]\Iarquette has provided us with a description of this 
journey which, however, he was obliged to write from mem- 
ory, as his papers were lost during his return voyage. He 
was especially well fitted for the undertaking from his long 

—21-- 



residence among the Hurons and his knowledge of their 
habits and language. 

His Indian friends tried to dissuade him from his pur- 
pose by describing the fierceness of the tribes to be en- 
countered and the dangers of the Great Eiver which they 
said was full of frightful monsters capable of devouring both 
men and canoes. In reply, Marquette explained to them 
that he would be glad to lose his life if by so doing, he 
could save the souls of the natives. 

Their course lay through the Green Bay into the Fox 
Eiver. From the head of this river, the Indians guided 
them through swamps, and fields of wild oats into the wa- 
ters of the Ouisconsing (Wisconsin.) This they followed un- 
til they came into the Mississippi, June 1673. 



Note Marquette, in his description, gives an in- 

teresting account of the strange fish and animals which ihey 
encountered. He describes one animal as "a hideous mon- 
ster, his head was like that of a tiger, his nose was sharp, 
and somewhat resembled a wild cat, his beard was long; nis 
ears stood upright; the color of his head was gray; and 
his neck was black. He looked upon us for some time 
but, as we came near him, our oars frightened him away." 

Like others recounting past adventures, Marquette must 
have allowed his imagination considerable play. 

They followed the Mississippi past the mouth of the 
Missouri and to the Arkansas. Here, Marquette says: 
"Having satisfied ourselves that the Gulf of Mexico was in 
latitude 31° 40' and that we could reach it in three or four 
days' journey from the Arkansas, and that the Mississippi 
discharged into it and not to the eastward of the Cape of 
Florida, nor into the California Sea, we resolved to return 
home. We considered that the advantage of our travels 
would be altogether lost to our nation if we fell into the 
hands of the Spaniard from whom we could expect no other 
treatment than death or slavery; besides, we saw that we 

22 



were not prepared to resist the Indians, the allies of the 
Europeans, who continually infested the lower part of this 
river." About the middle of July, they returned by way of 
Illinois Eiver to Lake Michigan. Marquette died two years, 
later at the age of thirty-eight. 

The voyage of Marquette was important because his re"-- 
port proved the truth of Indian accounts of the existence' 
of the Great River. In 1682, there was fitted out another 
expedition for further exploration of the Mississippi. 

LA SALLE La Salle was a descendant of a noble French 
family; he was once a Jesuit but became a 
fur trader. The story of Marquette's voyage filled La Salle 
with eagerness to follow the Mississippi still farther tov/ard 
its mouth. He consulted Gov. Frontenac, who encouraged 
the plan, but was unable to fit out the expedition and per- 
suaded him to return to France to get a patent from the 
King. La Salle returned; but four years elapsed before he 
secured the royal support. 

After this, money was supplied and about thirty vol- 
unteers arrived at Quebec in 1678. With him on this voy- 
age was Father Louis Hennepin. They soon started west- 
ward, traversed Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Michigan, 
and after many discouraging experiences, the winter of 1680 
found them in a fort built on the bank of the Illinois Eiver, 
near the present site of Peoria. This they named Ft. Creve 
Coeur (Heart-break). La Salle left a small company 
here, while he returned to New France for provisions. 

HENNEPIN La Salle had been authorized by the crown 
to continue the explorations made by Joliet 
of the lower Mississippi to its mouth. The fact that the 
King had not specified the upper Mississippi in his patent, 
did not daunt this enthusiastic leader. He selected three of 
his men, Hennepin, the priest, and Angnelle an'l Accault, 
two traders, to accomplish this part of the journey. 

Father Louis Hennepin was born in Belgium in 1640. 

—23— 



He had entered the order of St. Francis in his youth, and 
served it in France, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Germany. 
He had the- double "purpose of adventtire for adventure's 
sake, and the concerting of savages to Christianity. 

This trip was a dangerous undertaking, but the men 
were ambitious and Hennepin encouraged them in the be- 
lief that they would would follow the river to the sea and 
find a passage to Japan, which he believed was on the same 
continent as America. 

Loading their canoes with merchandise to be used as 

presents for the savages they might encounter, and also as 

money in their trade with them, our three heroes left their 

comrades, Feb. 29, 1680, and started out on an expedition 

iilled with hardships and peril. ^ By the' middle of March, 

■ithej reached the mouth of the Illinois and proceeded up the 

.Mississipi Eiver. This attempt had never before been made 

Tby a white man. They continued in safety until April 11, 

when, coming down the river, they saw a sight, which, brave 

as they were, made their hearts beat faster. 

Here 'were thirty-three canoes filled with Indian war- 
riors of the Dakota tribe, going forth against their ene- 
mies, the Illinois Indians. Learning from the French that 
the Illinois tribe had crossed the river to hunt, they de- 
cided to return home and compelled the Frenchmen to go 
with them as captives. These Indians were called Lake 
Villagers, and lived near Mille Lacs, in several different 
^'illages.. 

While going up the river, the white men often excited 
the wonder and curiosity of the Indians. Hennepin tells 
us that when he was at prayer, the Indians thought he was 
a magician, and followed him about through the woods, not 
wishing to leave' liim. alone. The mariner's compass which 
he showed theni filled them with apprehension. Once one 
of the white men, seeing a wild turkey, • fired his gun, not 
only killing ijie turkey but terrifying , the savages who had 
never heard the. report of a gun. . 

Our French hieii had in their possession an iron kettle 

.; .: ;•! .,: . —24— ■: . ■• 



with feet like a lion's paw. The Indians refused to toucli this 
with their hands. 

Many times, they contemplated killing their captives, but 
spared them in the hope of entering into fur trading with 
the French. After traveling for about twenty days, the 
party reached the present site of St. Paul and went over- 
land past Dayton's Bluff and the shores of Lake Phalen to 
Mille Lacs. This strenuous march from St. Paul to the 
Sioux villages took them five days. When they reached Mille 
Lacs, Hennepin and his followers were sent to separate vil- 
lages, uncertain as to what fate awaited" them. 



Note. The Frenchmen were stiff and sore from their 
long walk. In kindness, the Indians treated them to a steam 
bath. Their way of doing this was to build a small lodge of 
poles- covered with buffalo skins. Jnto this they put several 
red hot boulders. The patient, stripped of his clothing, 
poured water on the stones. He was enveloped in a dense 
cloud of steam, which he endured as long as possible; then 
he was taken out and given a vigorous rubbing. This 
treatment was veiy helpful in relieving the muscles of their 
fatiaue. 



The following July, the chief allowed Anguelle and 
Hennepin to go in -a canoe down the Mississippi to the mouth 
of the Wisconsin, where they expected to find reinforce- 
ments of Frenchmen with food, ammunition and goods sent 
by La Salle. 

During this time, Accault was still a captive and on 
a hunt with the savages. On this voyage, they passed the 
falls of St. Anthony, which Hennepin so named for St. An- 
thony of Padua. The party proceeded to the Wisconsin but 
found there no trace of the expected supplies and returned 
to Mille Lacs. 

On his return voyage, Hennepin met Du Luth and 
some French soldiers coming from the Lake Superior region. 
They accompanied him to the Lake Villages. Duluth had 

—25— 



met the Indians of Mille Lacs the year before at a great coun- 
cil where he had persuaded them of the advantages of French 
trade. They respected his counsel and the next fall, allowed 
Hennepin and his party to accompany Dn Luth upon his 
departure under a supposition that they wouM return bring- 
ing goods to establish a trading post. 

The French party followed first the Eum Eiver, then 
the Mississippi to the Wisconsin. From this river, they port- 
aged across to Green Bay, and, free at last, returned to 
France. The name of this explorer is perpetuated in that 
of Hennepin County. 

Father Hennepin published his first account of this 
voyage, under the title '^Description of Louisiana," which he 
dedicated to the king of France, in 1683. While he has con- 
fused geograjDhical ideas, this story is in the main, considered 
truthful. 

A second account, "New Discovery of a Very Great 
Country Situated in America," contains many exaggerations 
which may have been introduced by some editor unknown to 
Hennepin. 

LA SALLE'S La Salle returned to the Illinois 

SECOND VOYAGE river in 1682 and proceeded aown 
the Mississippi to its mouth. Here, 
with elaborate ceremonies, he took possession of the Missis- 
sippi and all her tributaries in the name of the King of 
France. 

LE SUEUR Another French subject, Le Sueur, had built 
a trading post on an island ("Isle Pelee,"' now 
Prairie Island) in the MississiiDpi, about nine miles below 
Hastings, through an order of Governor Frontenac. He be- 
lieved that he had discovered copper in this region and has- 
tened to Montreal and from there to Paris to gain permis- 
sion to open mines in New France. He received permission 
and returned to Minnesota in 1699. He and several com- 
panions ascended the St. Peter's (Minnesota) River which 

-26-- 



they followed to the mouth of the Blue Earth. Here they 
built a fort, "L Huillier/' and filled a boat with a peculiar 
bluish green earth found in the bluffs of this region. In 
1702, he set sail for home. The mineral he carried proved 
worthless and he never returned; but he has left his name 
among us as another, willing to adventure and endure much 
in an effort to explore the resources of this new world. 

FAILURE OP The French, at the beginning of the 18th 
FRENCH IN century, had some knowledge of the re- 

AMERICA gion of the Great Lakes, almost the en- 

tire length of the Mississippi valley and 
a portion of each of her great tributaries; but in all of this 
extensive territory, she had made few permanent settlements. 
She established trading posts, forts and missions, but she 
did not establish homes. Her out posts were not self-sup- 
porting, but, with the exception of supplies gained by hunt- 
ing and fishing, w^ere almost entirely dependent upon the 
mother country. 

The period between 1700 and 1763 was one of dis- 
turbance in France. She was at war almost continuously 
and was unable to give her explorers and colonists as lib- 
eral support as formerly; certain Indian tribes. Sacs, Foxes, 
and Sioux were often hostile in their behavior : and French 
exploration in the Northwest languished. Probably the great 
value of this enormous extent of territory was not appre- 
ciated in France when, in 1763, she relinquished to Eng- 
land all her territory east of the Mississipr)i except Xew 
Orleans. 



-27- 



CHAPTER IV 

ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS 
1763-1783 

ENGLISH AND 'Now, the history of Minnesota is di- 
FRENCH OWNER- vided for several years into parts, "for 
SHIP the territory east of the Mississippi be- 

came an English holding while that 
west of the Mississippi, under the name of Louisiana, be- 
longed to the Spanish. 

To the men who for the most part, occupied our great 
state at this time, the change of ownership signified very 
little. Far removed from the dissensions of Europe, they 
hunted deer and bison, fished, gathered wild rice, raised 
corn, built their homes and made their clothing. 

Their canoes floated down the quiet stream; the hills 
echoed their songs; only occasionally through some passing 
trader, they heard the name of the "Great White Father'' 
beyond the waters. 

Foremost among the explorers sent out by England into 
her new, far western possessions was Jonathan Carver. 

JONATHAN Jonathan Carver was born in Connecticut 
CARVER in 1732. His father was a Justice of the 

Peace, a much more important office at that 
time than we consider it today. Jonathan studied medicine, 
but finding that he disliked this profession, he gave it up. 
He became an ensign in a Connecticut regiment during the 

—28— 



French and Indian War where he distinguished himself for 
his courage and leadership; though he nearly lost his life at 
the massacre of Ft. William Henry. 

In June, 1766, Carver left Boston and reached Mack- 
inaw, a well-established English post, in August. From 
there, accompanied by a French Canadian and a Mohawk 
Indian, he followed the regular route of travel to Green 
Bay and by the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, reached the Mis- 
sissippi. 

The account of his voyage describes his trip up the Mis- 
sissippi Eiver as far as Lake Pepin and up the Minnesota 
as far as New Ulm. At the latter place, he found a band 
of friendly Sioux with whom he spent the winter. 

In the spring, he accompanied about three hundred of 
these Indians, who, after their custom, brought the bodies 
of their dead to be buried at the Indian mounds on Dayton's 
Bluff — now part of St. Paul. 

He tells us that here the Indians knew a wonderful 
cave which they called the dwelling of the Great Spirit. 
Its walls were covered with Indian characters. This was 
the council chamber of the natives. 

Carver's description of a funeral oration given in this 
cave furnished the theme for Schiller's ^^Song of the Nad- 
owessee Chief," which is considered one of his best works. 

The explorer expected a supply of goods when he 
reached the Falls of St. Anthony to be sent by Eogers, the 
officer in command at Mackinaw. Eeceiving none, he went 
on to Prairie du Chien, a French town, whose name means 
''Bog Prairie," so called after an old Indian chief titled, 
"The Dog." It was at this time, a village of about three 
hundred people and was the chief center of the fur-trading 
industry. Carver was disappointed here also in receiving 
supplies and decided to go to the traders on Pigeon River, 
on the northern shore of Lake Superior. This was a long 
and hazardous journey and after reaching his destination, 
he found these traders, too, were unable to supply him. 

Necessity compelled him to return to England to seek 

-29— 



aid from the government. He never returned to America, 
but published a full account of his travels, in which he pro- 
phesied the future commercial value of the Great Lakes and 
river systems of Minnesota. 

After his death, Carver's heirs produced a deed which 
they said he obtained from two Indian chiefs. May, 1767, 
while he was at Carver's Cave. This grant included St. 
Paul and much of Wisconsin, but the claim of the heirs 
was refuted by both the English and the American govern- 
ments. Much of Carver's story is now discredited. 



Note : 

Carver's cave was well known to early explorers of Min- 
nesota, but in later years, the location of its entrance was 
forgotten. 

During 1913, the Mound Park Improvement Associa- 
tion of St. Paul succeeded in their efforts to re-discover 
and open the cave. 



30— 



CHAPTER V 

EARLY EXPLORATIONS BY UNITED 

STATES GOVERNMENT 

1783-1838 

EASTERN By the treaty of 1783, in which England 

MINNESOTA, acknowledged our independence, the 
U. S. western boundary of the United States 

TERRITORY was the Mississippi River. Thus Min- 

nesota, east of the Mississippi, belonged 
to the United States. It was a part of that unorganized 
western territory claimed with some show of justice by Vir- 
ginia, Massachusetts, Xew York and Connecticut. These 
states finally relinguished their claims (1787) and the 
N'orthwest Ordinances were passed. By these ordinances, 
Eastern Minnesota became nominally under the government 
of the Xorthwest Territory, but her trading posts were still 
in the hands of British companies, and her laws were prac- 
tically made by the agents of these companies. 

WESTERN In 1803, the United States purchased 

MINN. COMES Louisiana from France. This territory 
UNDER U. S. extended from the Mississippi to the 
GOVERNMENT Eockv Mountains thus including West- 
ern Minnesota. The entire area of our 
state was now held by the United States. 

—31— 



PIK&S JOURNEY 

PURPOSE In 1805, Jefferson order Zebulon Pike to \dsit 
the upper region of the Mississippi to discover 
the source of that river; to make alliances with the Indian 
tribes; to attempt to bring about peace between contending 
tribes ; and to ascertain the behavior of English fur traders 
regarding governmental regulations. 

DIFFICULTIES In his diary, Pike describes some of the 
OF JOURNEY difficulties of his undertaking : "In the 
execution of this voyage, I had no gen- 
tleman to aid me and I literally performed the duties of 
astronomer, surveyor, commanding officer, clerk, spy, guide, 
and hunter, frequently preceding the party for miles in or- 
der to reconnoiter and returning in the evening, hungry and 
fatigued, to sit down in the open air, by the fire light, to 
copy the notes and plot the course of the day." No one 
can read Pike's account of this voyage without feeling that 
he was ably fitted for his commission. He was steadfast, 
earnest and apparently untiring. 

Pike left Dubuque, September 2, 1805. Up the Mis- 
sissippi River, which has since become, in a comparatively 
short time, one of the great commercial highways of the 
world. Pike then journeyed many miles without encounter- 
ing a man or looking upon a single human habitation. 

LAND OF On the morning of September 10, one of 
THE SIOUX his men fired at a pigeon and the shot was 
heard at a Sioux encampment near. The 
chief, La Feuille ("The Leaf") also called Wabashait\ sent 
Pike a friendly message and invited the company to visit 
his camp. The next day, they accepted the invitation. They 
were well received by the chief and allowed to witness a 
religious dance. 

Note 1: "Men and women danced indiscriminately. 
They were all dressed in the gayest manner; each had m 
his hand a small skin of soone description, and would fre- 

—32— 



qiieiitly run up, point this skin at a companion, and give a 
puff with his breath when the person blown at, whether man 
or woman, would fall and appear to be almost lifeless or 
in great agony; but would recover slowly, rise and join again 
in the dance. This they called 'The Great Medicine' and 
they believed that they actually puffed something into each 
other's bodies which occasioned their falling." Minn. Hist. 
Coll.. Vol. 2. 

Note 2. The present city of Winona occupies a plain 
long known as Wabashaw's Prairie. The chief village of this 
land, Keoxa, was located at the upper end of the valley. 

L. H. Bunnell gives us an interesting account of the 
first Chief Wabashaw, and the derivation of his name. 

The Indians of Minnesota did not welcome the Eng- 
lish traders when they came to ^ supplant the French and 
often opposed their establishment. One English trader hold- 
ing a post near the mouth of the St. Peter's was shot by a 
Sioux Indian and the English decided to abandon that post. 

This soon became a great hardship to the Indians for 
there was no other source from which they could obtain sup- 
plies of fire-arms and ammunition and they were at a great 
disadvantage in their contests with the Chippewas, their 
ancient enemy, who were well supplied with both. 

After much deliberation, the Sioux decided to give up 
the murderer to the British authorities at Quebec and beg 
for the re-establislnnent of the post. 

It was a serious band of warriors and their families who, 
under the leadership of their chief Wapa (The Leaf) began 
their Journey to the distant stronghold. Before they readied 
Quebec, many became disheartened and turned back and the 
murderer made his escape. Only six remained with the 
chief. To give up the project, meant the possible annihilation 
of his band and finally, Wapa volunteered to give himself 
to the British instead of the escaped criminal; and, if need 
be, sacrifice his life for the better welfare of his people. 

Xeedless to say, the British released him when they 
heard his story and sent him home happy with the promise 

—33— 



of a renewed trade and with a splendid uniform wliicii in- 
cluded a bright red cap. 

Upon his return, clad in his gorgeous apparel, he marched 
at the head of his followers into his own village and his 
people hailed him as Wapa ha sha (red cap). This title 
was thereafter hereditary in the tribe. 

Among both white men and Indians, Wabasha was re- 
spected as a brave warrior and wise counselor. It was his 
son who was met by Pike on this voyage and his grand-son, 
Wabashaw, was chief of the band when they were finally re- 
moved to the reservation in accordance with the treaty of 



Pike urged Wabasha to make peace with the Chippewa 
and finally the great chief gave him a peace pipe that he 
might carry to them as a token of friendliness. 

Feeling well pleased with the result of his encounter 
with this band. Pike resumed his journey. Xow it led him 
through the beautiful Lake Pepin and to the present site 
of Red Wing. Here, Pike found encamped another great 
Sioux chief, Shakea (Red Wing). Eed Wing also received 
him courteously and moreover offered to accompany him to 
the village of Ka])oja, about ten miles below the mouth of 
the St. Petei*'s (Minnesota) River. This village was a little 
east of the site of the present city of St. Paul, probably ly- 
ing on the flats below Dayton's Bluff. 

The tribal name of the Indians -of this village was Ka- 
poja and the hereditary name of their chief was Petit Cor- 
beau (Little Crow). 

Sheltered from cold winds, and close to their fishing 
grounds, their huts were gathered about the base of the 
bluffs;' but on the wide plains above, w^here now are broad 
avenues and beautiful homes, they hunted deer, bison, and 
'bear. 

When Pike reached this village, September 21, he 
found the Indians gone to gather wild rice in distant marshes. 
Along the winding river, through the woods that then grew 

-34— 



close to its banks, past the great bluffs called by the In- 
dians, In im i ja Sl-a White Eock), he reached the same 
day, the temporary encampment of Jean Baptiste Faribault, 
near the mouth of the St. Peter's and below the present 
villasfe of Mendota. 



Note 1. On his way from Eed Wing, Pike camped at 
Eed Eock, Washington County. Here was a famous stone 
called by the Indians, Red Medicine Stone. It was a sye- 
nite rock deposited long ago by the great glacier. The In- 
dians painted it red; and before it, they worshipped and left 
gifts for the Great Spirit. The first Methodist mission of 
Minnesota was established here and it has since been the 
scene of many religious encampments of both Indians and 
white men. 

Note 2. Jean Baptiste Faribault. The name of Jean 
Baptiste Faribault is closely associated with the early his- 
tory of Minnesota. For about fifty years, he was a prom- 
inent fur-trader of the northwest. Previous to the war of 
1<S12, Faribault operated a post at Prairie du Chien. lie 
refused to aid the British forces during that war and his 
post was destroyed and he was left penniless and homeless. 
]N"ot daunted, he began anew, and in 1819, removed to Pike's 
Island and later to a position near Mendota at the mouth 
of the St. Peter's. He operated this post for the Ameri- 
can Fur Company under Astor for some time. Re was also 
agent for the post at Little Eapids. His counsel was al- 
ways valuable in Indian affairs, because of his long and inti- 
mate acquaintance with them; moreover he was a man of 
robust, sound principles and good sense whose opinion com- 
manded respect. His son, Alexander, founded the city of 
Faribault. 



Pike made his own encampment on an island opposite 
the mouth of the St. Peter's called since. Pike's Island. The 
next day, he returned to Kapoja and met in council, tlie 
great chiefs, Le Petit Corheau (Little Crow) and UOrig- 



35 



rial Leve (Eisiiig Moose) also Fils de PmcJion (half-breed 
son of a Frenchman, Pinchon). 



Xote: L'Orignal Leve (The Eising Moose) is a name 
given by the French to a young brave who was Pike's guide 
during part of this voyage. Pike called him, "my friend/' 
and because of the honor of this friendship, his Indian as- 
sociates thereafter called him "Ta ma ha" (Pike). Having 
lost one eye during his boyhood, he is sometimes described 
as the "One-eyed Sioux" by traders, but the title of which 
he was most proud was "The One American Sioux." 

Tamaha was of Wabashaw's band. He was tall and fine 
in appearance and was vigorously active till the day of his 
death. 

During the war of 1812, when many Sioux were in- 
duced by Colonel Dickson to ally themselves . with the Eng- 
lish, Tamaha alone of all the chiefs, remained loyal to the 
Americans even though Dickson threatened him with death. 
General Clark, recognizing his loyalty, made him a chief 
of the Sioux nation and presented him with a captain's uni- 
form and medal, which he wore always afterward on state 
occasions. 

In 1862, when the Sioux were banished, Tamaha was 
obliged to go with the tribe and his grief was so great that 
it hastened his death. 



These chiefs granted the government represented by Pike, 
100,000 acres including the St. Anthony Falls and the St. 
Croix Piver. For this immense tract, he presented the In- 
dians gifts to the value of about two hundred dollars. Pike 
also urged the Indians to transfer their allegiance to the 
American government rather than that of England. 

While in this vicinity, he visited St. Anthony Falls and 
took careful measurements of them and made a map of the 
surrounding region. 



-36 



LAND OF From Kaposia, (Kapoja) Pike pro- 

THE CHIPPEWAS ceedecl steadily up the river among 
increasing hardships. The weather 
grew cold and his men were becoming exhausted. Accord- 
ingly, he stopped at the mouth of the Swan River near Lit- 
tle Falls and built an encampment. He stayed here for a 
time l)uilding sleds and "peroques" (canoes) then, leaving 
part of his men and provisions, pressed on again toward 
Sandy Lake which he reached January 13. Sandy Lake was 
in charge of a British trader, Mr. Grant, who represented 
the Xorthwestern Fur Company. This was the most im- 
portant post in northern Minnesota. Lnagine Pike's dis- 
pleasure when he saw the British flag flying above it. Mr. 
Grant received him very courteously. 

Pike describes the post: "It has attained at present 
. such regularity as to permit the superintendent to live in 
toleral)le comfort. They have horses procured from the Red 
River, of the Indians ; raise plenty of Irish potatoes ; catch 
pike, suckers, pickerel, and white fish in abunflance. They 
have also beaver, bear, and moose but the provision they de- 
pend upon is wild oats, of which they purchase great quan- 
tities from the savages; but flour, pork and salt are almost 
interdicted to persons not principals in the trade. Flour 
sells at 50 cents; salt, $1.00; pork, 80 cents; sugar, 50 cents; 
coffee — ; tea, $4.50 per pound. Maple sugar is obtained from 
the Indians." This, a description of the home of one of 
the most powerful men of the time in Minnesota ! For sev- 
eral years, the men of these posts would not see the Kice 
of another white man, they had few books or none, and 
only very limited and irregular communications with the 
world outside. 

From Sandy Lake, Pike crossed to Leech Lake which 
he believed to be the head or source of the Mississippi. He 
lodged on the shore of this lake with Huojh McGillis, who 
was the director of this division of the Xorthwestern Fur 
Company. Here also he was very hospitably entertained but 
remarked that this post, too, was flying the colors of Eng- 
land. 

—37— 



He supposed he had performed two of the purj^oses of 
his voyage^ two others remained. 

He wTote Mr. McGillis an order demanding that the 
British flags be removed from the posts within the boun- 
daries of the United States ; that no more goods be smuggled 
across the Northern boundary evading the customs; and that 
British traders be instructed to give no more British ilags 
nor medals to the Indians. Mr. McGillis agreed by letter 
to these terms. 

Pike also met here the great Chippewa chiefs in coun- 
cil: Curhj Head of Gull Lake, Flatmouth of Leech Lake, 
and Brol'en Tooth of Sandy Lake. The names of these 
chiefs are not so pleasantly suggestive as those of the Sioux; 
but they were counted the three greatest of the Chippewa 
leaders. Pike showed them the peace pipe of Wabasha and 
urged them also to make peace. After some discussion, they 
agreed to do so and delegated some of the young men of 
their tribe to return with Pike and carry messages of peace 
to the Sioux, and of allegiance to the government fathers of 
St. Louis. 



RETURN Pike now believed that he had accom- 

AND RESULTS plished all that he had been sent to 
OF VOYAGE do and returned to St. Louis, happy 

in that belief; but events of the next 
few years overthrew much that he hoped he had accom- 
plished. When the war between England and the United 
States broke out, the Indians broke the treaties of alliance 
they had made with us ; the tribes, between whom Pike hoped 
he had made permanent peace, were engaged in bitterest war- 
fare; the British posts became recruiting stations for bands 
of Indians and half-breeds; later explorations proved that 
Leech Lake is not the true source of the Mississippi. Let us 
not, however, think that Pike's voyage was a failure. His 
story awakened new interest in the upper valley of the Mis- 
sissippi and led to its further exploration an^l final settle- 

-38— 



meiit and also led the government to see the necessity of 
providing for its defense. 

EARLY FUR- Affairs in the early government of Min- 
TRADE OF nesota were handled through the Xorth- 

MINNESOTA western Fur Company. This was a pow- 
erful company organized in Montreal in 
1783, hy whom great quantities of goods were brought here 
from England and were re-distributed to the posts west and 
north of the Great Lakes. It controlled practically all the 
fur trade of this region and was the real dispenser of its 
laws. 

Eastern Minnesota became free from England by the 
treaty of 1783, but the English continued to build posts 
here. Sandy Lake Post in Aitkin County, the most im- 
portant trading post among the Chippewas, was built in 
1794 and the British flag flew over it in 1805 in defiance 
of treaties made with the United States. 

These British trading posts were always a menace to 
the continuance of American government in the Northwest 
and during the war of 1812, their commanders took an ac- 
tive part in the service of England. 



Xote. {Minnesota in Three Centuries Vol. 2 P. 32 R. 
I. Holcombe) "In Minnesota County, Eobert Dickson (Brit- 
ish superintendent of the western tribes) and his emissaries 
induced members of the Sioux and Chippewas to violate the 
oblig'ations of their treaty with Lieutenant Pike and join 
the British forces in warfare against the Americans. The 
Minnesota Indians, recruited and organized by Dickson, 
served the British at the capture of Mackinaw and Prairie 
du Chien." In other battles also, these ^linnesota agents of 
the Xorthwestern C'ompany were in the foremost ranks op- 
posing our government. 

—39— 



JOHN J. ASTOR The behavior of this great company 
causes us to rejoice in the success of 
the American Fiir Company organized in 1809. While we 
were still fighting for our independence, there came to Amer- 
ica, a youth of twenty, John Jacob Astor. Ke was the 
jjon of a German peasant and he brought with him the sav- 
ings of four years' apprenticeship in London. It was a 
meager sum but with it he established himself in a small 
fur trading business which grew rapidly. In 1809, Congress 
authorized him to incorporate the American Fur Trading 
Company and when, in 1816, a law was passed restricting 
Indian fur trade in the United States to American citizens, 
the Northwestern Company sold all its posts and outfits m 
United States to Mr. Astor whose line of forts extended 
from t]ie Atlantic to the Pacific. 

The old English traders were gradually retired and 
Astor filled their places with stirring young Americans, 
many of them lads from Vermont. They were full of en- 
terprise and enthusiasm for the development of this por- 
ton of their country. Among Astor's employees was Wm. 
Crooks, his general manager (father of the man for whom 
Crookston was named) and Eobert Stuart, associated with 
Crooks. 

In 1847, the American Fur Company sold its interests 
to Chouteau and Company of St. Louis. About the same 
time. Crooks, Borup, and Oakes organized the Northern Fur 
Company but this firm also sold out soon to a St. Louis 
company. 



-40- 



FORT SWELLING 

NEED OF The interest aroused by the report of Pike iiad 
A FORT been quite eclipsed by the stirring events which 
engaged pulblic attention between ISO'S and 
lbl6, but the disputes between the Hudson Bay company and 
the Selkirk colony in northern Minnesota and the persistent 
and earnest solicitation of the American Fur Company for 
military assistance in ridding the territory of British trad- 
ers who still trespassed our boundaries, led the government 
to consider the establishment of a military station on tlie 
Upper Mississijjpi. 

BUILDING At last, in 1819, Secretary of War, Calhoun, 
THE FORT ordered the fifth infantry under Colonel 
Leavenworth to proceed from their station in 
Detroit, Michigan, to the confluence of the St. Peter's and 
Mississippi and there establish regimental headquarters. 



Xote. Leavenworth was compelled to delay a few 
months before Jie carried out this order that he might first 
organize "Crawford County'^ authorized by the legislature 
of Michigan territory. By this act, the boundaries of the 
county were as follows : "On the east by a line running 
north and south from the portage of the Fox and Wis- 
consin rivers and extending to Lake Superior, thence west- 
ward to the Mississippi River." Thus we see that Eastern 
Minnesota was in 1819, a part of Crawford County, Michigan. 

This, we remember, was upon the grant of land ob- 
tained by Pike from the Sioux chiefs in 1805. Now that 
she was ready to occupy the land, the United States in- 
creased the gifts of two hundred dollars value, made by 
Pike, to others valued at two thousand dollars sent, also in 
the spring of 1819, by Major Forsyth. 

Colonel Leavenworth's company comprising eighty-two 
persons, arrived at the St. Peter's, Aug. 24, and in Sep- 
tember, they were re-enforced by one hundred and twenty 
men. 

—41— 



All hands fell to work building a cantonment for oc- 
cupancy during the winter. Plenty of material, wood and 
stone, could be obtained, which, however, must be prepared 
and carried, often to a considerable distance by the men. 
The site of this first encampment was near the present ferry 
of Mendota. The winter of 1819-20 was very severe; the 
men were unused to the extreme cold and their food was 
poor; many became ill with scurvy and before the epidemic 
passed, forty of the little party had died. 

In the spring, waters from the melting ice and snow, 
overflowed the banks of the rivers endangering the camp; 
and it was wisely decided to build the permanent quarters 
on the higher ground to the north where was a beautiful 
spring giving an abundant supply of pure water. This 
spring was called Cold Water and the later camp received 
the name, "Camp Cold Water," 

In the spring, the soldiers commenced building the 
fort. The cornerstone was laid September, 10, 1820, but 
the building was not completed until October, 1822. A saw- 
mill erected at St. Anthony Falls in 1821 was of great as- 
sistance. 

Before the completion of the fort. Col. Leavenworth vras 
succeeded by Col. Snelling. General Scott visited the post 
in 1824, and was so pleased with the energy and ability witn 
which Col. Snelling was accomplishing the erection of the 
buildings that he recommended that its name be changed 
from St. Aritliony (the title given when the corner stone 
was laid) to Ft. Snelling. 

At this time, the fort, situated as it was at the junction 
of waterways leading to the west and north, was very im- 
portant in controlling local government. 

It was then, for protection, surrounded by walls strength- 
ened bv corner towers. These walls have since been removed. 

FIRST FLOUR In 1823, Col. Snelling experimented in 
MILL raising wheat on lands near the fort and 

he applied to the government for machin- 
ery necessary for a small grist mill. His request was griint- 

—42— 



ed and the mill was built. The flour first ground was so 
poor that the soldiers refused to eat the bread made from 
it, but the government continued to operate the mill until 
1849, when it was sold to private parties and became the 
nucleus of the great milling industry of Minneapolis. 



Xote E. I. Holcombe quotes from Mrs. Ann Adama 
in ''Minnesota in Three Centuries" Vol. 2. ''Col. Snelling 
had sown some wheat that season, 1823, and had it ground 
at a mill which the government had built at the falls but the 
wheat had become mouldy or sprouted, and made wretched, 
black, bitter-tasting bread. This was issued to the troops, 
who got mad because they could not eat it and brought it 
to the parade ground and threw it down there. Col. Snelling 
came out and remonstrated with them. There was much in- 
convenience that winter on account of scarcity of provi- 



MAJOR In order to conduct relations with the 

TALIAFERRO Indians, the government found it neces- 
sary to employ an Indian agent to reside 
at or near the military post of Ft. Snelling. In 1819, the 
same year that Leavenworth journeyed into the frontier with 
troops. Major Taliaferro was appointed by President Mon- 
roe for this office which he held for twenty years. Taliaferro 
was a young Virginian of Italian descent. He served in the 
regular army during the war of 1812 and was distinguished 
for his courage and determination. Hardly could the govern- 
ment have made a better choice for the difficult work at this 
outpost. While only twenty-four when he took this position, 
Taliaferro was firm and tactful in his dealings with the In- 
dians; he was determined in his efforts to drive out British 
traders and he made manv enemies amono^ the American 
traders because he fought persistently the distribution of liq- 
uor among the Indians. To Taliaferro belongs the credit 
of establishing the first farm school in Minnesota. He or- 

—42— 



ganized a government farm near Ft. Snelling where lie at- 
tempted to teach Indian boys agriculture. 

Major Taliaferro kept a careful diary during the years 
he spent at this post and it is a most valuable aid in de- 
termining the history of early events. 



-44- 



MAJOR LONaS EXPEDITION 

PURPOSE OF In 1823, both British and American fur 
LONG'S EX- trading companies were carrying on ex- 

PEDITION tensive business between the Missouri and 

Mississij^pi Rivers and along the northern 
boundary of the United States. 

The St. Peter's or Minnesota Eiver, which rises in Big 
Stone Lake, near the western boundary of Minnesota, flows 
southeast, later changing to a northeasterly course, and emp- 
ties into the Mississippi a short distance below St. Anthony 
Falls. Fur traders and others had given such contradictory 
information concerning this river, the soil and climate of 
the country adjacent to it, and its easy communication with 
the Red River of the Xorth, which flows into Lake Winnipeg 
and thence to Hudson Bay, that this section of the country 
was an object of especial interest to our government at that 
time. They wished to secure correct information about the 
country along the St. Peter's, the Red River, and along the 
49th parallel of north latitude. To do this, an expedition 
was authorized. 

Keating says, "It was determined in the spring of 1833 
by the Executive, that an expedition be immediately fitted 
out for exploring the river St. Peter's and the country «?itu- 
ated on the northern boundary of the United States, between 
the Red River of Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior. Major 
S. H. Long was put in command of the expedition and re- 
ceived orders from the War Department, Apr. 25, 1823, to 
examine and describe its productions, animal, vegetable and 
mineral, and to inquire into the character and customs, etc., 
of the Indian tribes inhabiting the same." 

ROUTE The party was formed at once and left Phil- 
adelphia April 20, 1823. They followed the pre- 
scribed route and reached Prairie du Chien on the 19th of 
June, where they got the first view of the mighty Father 
of Waters, which is here about half a mile wide. Carver 

—45— 



had given a ven- glowing account of this village; but accord- 
ing to Mr. Long, it was a small place of only one hundred 
fifty people, having about twenty dilapidated dwellings, and 
a few small stores. The fort which was built a short dis- 
tance from the village, for the protection of its white settlers, 
was rude and most uncomfortable. It was not w^ell situated 
as a military post, for it commanded neither the Mississippi 
nor Wisconsin Rivers. In this locality, chiefly along the 
Wisconsin Eiver, our party found extensive Indian worKs, 
as parapets and mounds. This place was probably the center 
of a large Indian population in former years. 

Here the party divided, Maj. Long and four companions 
proceeded to Ft. Snelling on foot, while the remainder of 
the party traveled by boat. With swollen streams to cross, 
this journey on foot was difficult and rather dangerous. 
RED WING'S On the evening of July 30th, Long and 
VILLAGE his company saw in the distance, the tops 

of wigwams ; and, coming closer, the bark- 
ing of the dogs and wild screeching of the children told tl.iem. 
that they had reached an Indian village. It was on the pres- 
ent site of Eed Wing, which we remember as the village of 
Chief Shakea (the man who paints himself red). Long wait- 
ed here for the river party which arrived the following fore- 
noon. 

Shakea invited them all to his lodge, where he and his , 
eldest son received them formally, shaking hands with each. 
When all had entered the lodge, Shakea made a speech wel- 
coming the guests who had l3een sent forth by the White 
Father, the President. His remarks were occasionally supple- 
mented by low gutturals of approval from the surround- 
ing braves. 

Maj. Long answered this speech, explaining the purpose 
of his journey, and then distributed presents, chiefly tobacco 
and powder, among them. The Indians, who had hoped for 
fire water, were dissatisfled. They called attention to the 
fact that their faces were painted black, an evidence of 
mourning for the loss of many friends, and begged for liquor 

—46— 



wliicli was often furnished by whites, as a bahn for grief. 
Maj. Long stil] refused their request, but convinced Shakea 
of his kindness in so doing. All then smoked the peace-pipe 
in turn, after which, according to an Indian custom, its 
wooden stem was removed and given to Major Long, while 
Shakea kept the bowl. 

FT. SNELLING Major Long reached Fort St. Anthony, 
July 2nd; the trip from Prairie du Chien 
had been accomplished by the land party in eight days. The 
river party reached Ft. Snelling later, on the same night, and 
all remained here about a week. We find in their accounts 
beautiful descriptions of ^linnehaha and St. Anthony Falls, 
and references showing the courtesies extended by Col. Snell- 
ing. Here they exchanged their interpreter for Joseph ±ien- 
ville, a half-breed of a Dakota band, who was to act also as 
a guide. He proved intelligent; honest and valuable, as he 
was alile to give them much information about the country, 
the fur trade, and Sioux tribes, with which he was very fa- 
miliar. 

MINNESOTA The expedition now consisting of thirty- 
RIVER three members, began the ascent of the 

Minnesota River, which means the river 
of turlu'd water. The English called this winding stream the 
River St. Peter's. They saw but little game, and only a few 
Indian tribes; but noticed large beds of stone which proved 
to be valuable granite. After traveling over 300 miles, Long 
came to Big Stone Lake, the source of this stream. The 
ridge between the St. Peter's River and the Red River of the 
Xorth, which flows into Lake Winnipeg, is so low that in 
times of heavy rains, the weter of Lake Traverse has been 
known to flow into St. Peter's River. 

ALONG THE From the source of the St. Peter's River, 

BED RIVER Long, securing carts and horses from some 

Frenchmen whom he met, passed down the 

east side of the Red River to Pembina. The journey was 

—47— 



made less monotonous by the large herds of buffalo encoun- 
tered; sometimes thousands were seen together. The men 
enjoyed the new experience of shooting these animals and 
thus provided themselves with the much needed fresh meat 
which was found delicious. 

The country was flat with but few trees along the 
streams. Indians and fur traders often set prairie fires for 
different purposes ; to destroy traces of passage, to open the 
country so that buffalos would come, to give friends notice of 
an enemy's approach, to remove obstacles to the chase. These 
fires, with the long droughts, prevented the growth of trees, 
and caused the great prairies. 

A camp, called Camp Monroe, was pitched near our 
northern boundary. The correct boundary line was est; b- 
lished and a post was erected having the letters "G. B.'' on 
the north side and "U. S." on the south side. On August 
8th the flag was raised, the national salute fired, and pos- 
session of the land south of this line was taken for the 
United States. 

It was found that St. Peter's fur trade far surpassed 
that of Pem])ina, and that the development of this country, 
although far removed from markets, must be through agri- 
culture. 

RETURN OF THE Long proceeded from Pembma 
EXPEDITION l)v canoes to Lake Winnipeg, 

through Lake of the Woods, Eainy 
Lake Eiver and Painy Lake to Fort Williams on Lake Su- 
perior. He returned to Philadelphia by way of the Great 
Lakes, reaching his destination October 26th, having made 
a journey of four thousand five hundred miles in about six 
months. 



-48- 



EARLY DEVELOPMENT 

FIRST In 1823, occurred an event of great im- 

STEAMBOAT portance to the little gronp of settlers at 
the mouth of the St. Peter's. There ap- 
peared one day a steamboat, the Virginia, the first to navi- 
gate the upper Mississippi as far as our Minnesota bouna- 
aries. The Indians, who had never before seen such a craft, 
believed it to be a great monster and fled in fright; but the 
white settlers must have rejoiced at this evidence that tney 
were to be once more within the reach of civilization. It 
was not, however, until 1847 that a regular steamboat line 
was organized. 

MAILS In connection with the arrival of the steamboat, 
let us consider the early delivery of the mails. 

Between 1819-23, the mails were carried by soiaiers 
who occasionally traversed the route between Forts Craw- 
ford and Snelling. The mail was usually received two or 
three times during the summer; but during the winter, 
months would sometimes elapse without a single message 
from the outside world. After 1823, mail was brought by 
boat but, even then, it was often delayed. 

The first regular mail carrier was James Hatpin, an 
Irish-American and a soldier of Prairie du Chien. He was 
appointed by Zachary Taylor, then in command at Fort 
Crawford, to carry mail from that fort to Ft. Snelling, a 
distance of about two hundred ten miles along the route then 
traveled. Halpin agreed to make the trip and return 
in fourteen days allowing about thirty miles a day. 

Dnring the winter, he traveled over the river in a dog 
sled but in the warmer weather, made the journey on foot. 
There were no bridges, so he swam or waded the streams. 

He carried the mail in a beaver skin sack made water 
proof and besides this was burdened with his blanket, a sup- 
ply of hard bread and salt, his rifle, and a flint and steel. Dur- 

—49— 



iiig the entire journey, he did not pass a single human habita- 
tion and seldom met a man. 

Halpin continued in this service for an entire year and 
did not miss a trip. It was however, several years later De- 
fore mail routes were regularly established. As late as 1848, 
St. Paul did not hear of Taylor's election as president until 
January; and it took five weeks for the news of its organiza- 
tion as a territory to reach Minnesota. 

SELKIRK Great Britain's possessions in northern Xorth 
America were inhabited largely by Indians, 
Prench, and Englishmen emplo^-ed by the Hudson Bay and 
and Xorthwestern fur companies. 

Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, and a wealthy Scotch- 
man, urged the necessity of the establishment of colonies in 
this western territory. Therefore, in 1811, he secured from 
the Hudson Bay Company, the grant to a tract of land in 
the -Red River region, within the present boundaries of Mani- 
toba. He satisfied the Indians by giving them a small sum 
of money, and the promise of regular yearly payments. Sel- 
kirk secured his first colonists, some sturdy Scotch High- 
landers, in 1812. They came over and settled near where 
the city of Winnipeg now stands. 

The Northwestern Fur company vigorously opposed the 
opening of this country for settlement. They knew that as 
civilization came to these wilds, the fur bearing animals would 
be driven away, and thus their prosperous business would 
terminate. The fur company showed its hostile attitude at 
once by taking these Scotch settlers prisoners, and driving 
them farther up the Red River to Pembina. Even there they 
robbed, murdered, and threatened the existence of the set- 
tlement. The conditions for the growth of the colony were 
indeed desperate ; for if they succeeded in getting seed into 
the ground, great flocks of hlack birds soon took it from the 
soil ; or if they had . been fortunate enough to escape being 
robbed by the birds, and the growing grain encouraged them 
for a time, grasshoppers came and deprived them of their 

—50— 



crop. The extreme cold, late planting seasons, and heavy 
rains which led to dangerous floods were conditions which 
only the courage of these Scotchmen could survive. 

In 1815, down at the junction of the Eed and Assini- 
boine Rivers, was another settlement of about two hundred 
people, who had built houses and a mill, and lived by tneir 
flocks of sheep and cattle. For the protection of these settlers, 
a fort was planned and several cannons were brought over 
from England. The Xorthwestern Fur Company stole tne can- 
nons, and broke up the settlement; but these colonists left, 
only to have their places filled by new settlers, who in turn 
were bitterly persecuted. Their horses and cattle, \rere stolen, 
houses burned, and the governor of the colony was driven 
to Montreal. Forced to abandon their homes, they did so, 
but returned again with new settlers, who met the same late. 

The innocent Scotch people', who had been misled by ex- 
aggerated reports and circulars sent through the -Highlands, 
now began to realize that immigration to this new land, did 
not secure for them the new homes or the release from pov- 
erty that they had hoped. 

SWISS It therefore became difficult to get 

IMMIGRATION more settlers from Scotland, so Sel- 
kirk turned to the unsuspecting coun- 
try people of Switzerland. An agent, located at Berne, dis- 
tributed among these simple mountain peasants, circulars 
which described the wild, unsettled, new country in a most 
alluring way. 

They were told that the fertile soil, and mild, soft cli- 
mate assured them of an abundant crop with the necessity 
of little cultivation : quantities of game and fruits were free 
to all ; herds of wild oxen roamed the , region ; and horses 
could be bought from the Indians. 

Consequently, in 1821, a number of kind, law-abiding, 
people, mostly laborers and mechanics, journeyed westw^ard 
and joined a rough German colony on the lower Eed River. 
The character of the German settlers, lack of food, and lone- 

—51-- 



liness in the new country made them leave and go farther np 
the Ked River to join the Scotch colony at Pembina. Here 
they found a scarcity of provisions, but a hearty welcome 
from a generous, hospitable people. 

Much suffering followed until the rivalry ceased between 
the Hudson Bay and Northwestern Fur Companies. This 
changed conditions for the colonists and an era of prosperity 
began in all territory where these companies were engaged. 

Although relieved from the oppression of the fur trad- 
ers, the settlers still had the elements and the natives with 
which to contend. The Red River Valley passed through 
many disheartening experiences, in its agricultural develop- 
ment, before it became known as ''The Bread Basket of the 
World." 

SELKIRKS In 1827, several of the Selkirk colonists 
GO TO FT. came across the border of the United States, 
SNELLING up the Red River, and down the Minnesota 
River to Fort Snelling, where they were wel- 
comed by Colonel Snelling. They were allowed to settle on 
the reservation, north of the fort. Here, they again built 
homes, cultivated the land, and became contented and happy 
settlers. Thus, before the Americans w^re pioneers in the 
west, these refugees from Selkirk's colony were the first white 
settlers to establish themselves on the frontier. 



HENRY In 1834, there were practically no white peo- 

SIBLEY pie in Minnesota except the garrison at Ft. 
Snelling, the Selkirk Colony, a very few mis- 
sionaries, and the fur-traders. 

The chief centers of the fur trade of the American Com- 
pany were at Mendota and at Fond du Lac. The chief fac- 
tors stationed here sent supplies to the outlying posts, li- 
censed the traders, and appointed them to their various dis- 
tricts. Necessity forced these men to give strict fidelity to 
their superiors and the word of the chief factors became the 

—52— 



law of the territory in spite of occasional opposition through 
government officials. 

A name most prominent in the early history of the state 
is that of Henry Sibley who came to Minnesota in 1834 as 
chief factor at Mendota, but who also served with ability, as 
justice of the peace of the territory west of the Mississippi; 
in 1848, as delegate to Congress from Wisconsin territory 
where he secured the passage of a bill organizing the territory 
of Minnesota; from 1849 to ^53, as a delegate to Congress 
representing Minnesota territory; in 1855, as a member of the 
territorial legislature; in 1857, as president of the Minne- 
sota Constitutional Convention; from 1858 to 1860, as gov- 
ernor of the state of Minnesota. 

Henry Sibley was born in Michigan. His father was 
a judge and he gave the boy a good education hoping he 
would be a lawyer but when young Henry showed a disposi- 
tion to follow a more active life, and longed to venture into 
the frontier, he did not dissuade him. When seventeen, Sibley 
became a fur trader at Sault Ste. Marie and he was only 
twenty-three when he was sent to Mendota to take charge 
of the business of the American Fur Company from Lake 
Pepin to Canada. 

It was a great undertaking especially for so young a 
man ; but the men who built Minnesota were young men. 

Sibley was more than a mere trader. He w^as very fond 
of all out-door sports and the Indians gave him the name, 
Wa zi ma (Walker in the pines) because he was so fleet 
and strong a walker. He Avas hospitable and courteous. His 
home, built in 1836, became the center of social events, a 
shelter for the wayfarer whether white or Indian, the center, 
too, where justice was dispensed and where political meas- 
ures for the further development of the territory v/ere 
planned. 

This house as it has been restored through the efforts 
of the Daughters of the American Revolution, still stands. 
By it, we may be taught much Minnesota history. We may 
see its great hewn rafters, willow lathed walls, cold cellars 

33 



with hooks for hanging venison, deep fire-places, the out- 
side staircase, and the spacious garret for the use of Indians 
who chose to accept its shelter. These all tell us a story of 
the manner of life of those early days. 

WAR BETWEE^ To the few white settlers gathered 
OJIBWAYS AND about the fort or the trading post, the 
DAKOTAS. Indian wars between the great 

tribes by which they were surrounded, 
were matters of greatest interest and importance. 

In 1827, Flatmouth of Leech Lake accompanied by 
twenty-four of his tribe, came to Fort Snelling to beg. Fear- 
ing an attack by their old enemies, the Sioux, they asked 
protection of the government. It was promised both by Col. 
Snelling and Maj. Taliaferro, and they were allowed to camp 
near the agency. Here they were visited by a delegation of 
Sioux led by Yellow Bass, whom they received courteously 
and treated to venison, corn, and maple sugar. The Sioux 
remained with them until late in the evening, then, with 
kind farewells, took their departure. Scarcely had they left 
the lodge, when they turned and fired upon their late hosts, 
killing eight of them. It was a cowardly deed and the sym- 
pathy of the soldiers of Ft. Snelling was with Flatmouth 
when he told his story. A band of soldiers pursued the Sioux 
and captured thirty-two of them whom they turned over to 
the Chippewa for justice. The Indians took them out to the 
open prairie and freed them but shot them as they fled for 
safety. Their bodies were scalped and otherwise mutilated, 
then were thrown over the bluffs into the Mississippi. Flat- 
mouth and his band were escorted on their way home by sol- 
diers until they were at a safe distance from the Sioux ; but 
a long series of tribal wars resulted from this unfortunate 
encounter. The Sio«x were in constant danger from the 
Chippewas and the white settlers were not safe from their 
threats and insults. The Sioux retaliated by raids and mas- 
sacres. 

Finally in 1832, the government sent Henry Schoolcraft, 

—54— 



Indian agent of Saiilt Ste. Marie, to try to make peace 
amons: the tribes. 



'fc> 



SCHOOL- The Upper Mississippi was not nnknown to 
CRAFT Schoolcraft. In 1820, Lewis Cass, then gover- 

nor of Michigan, organized an expedition to 
explore this most western county of his jurisdiction and 
Schoolcraft was a member of this party. They followed the 
Mississippi to Cass Lake which they determined upon as its 
source. Schoolcraft did not agree in this decision and we 
may imagine that this call to return to the Chippewa Country 
was not unwelcome to him. He was not asked to return to 
explore but to restore peace; however, he must have read his 
commission to suit himself, for he proceeded at once to trace 
the water courses to determine the true head of the great 
I'iver. Upon its discovery, he asked Eev. Boutwell, who was 
of his party, for a name meaning true source, and was given 
tlie words Veritas caput; Veritas, truth ; caput, head. School- 
craft eliminated the first three and the last three letters of 
these words and produced the name Itasca. He returned to 
Sault Ste Marie without fulfillino^ his real mission. 



END OF Reverend Gideon Pond, a missionary living 

THE WAK with the Indians, accompanied a band of 
young Sioux from Lac qui Parle on a hunt- 
ing trip into the Chippewa Country in 1838. Some of them 
made camp near the forks of the Chippewa Eiver. Here they 
were visited by a band of Chippewas. They received their 
guests liospitably and invited them to spend the night. 

When all were sound asleep, the Chippewas rose and 
murdered all their Indian hosts except one young girl whom 
they took prisoner. Thus they felt they retaliated for the 
similar crime of 1829 and were willing to give up the war 
at least for the time. Their motto seemed to be "an eye lor 
an eye and a tootli for a tooth.'' 

— 55— 



THE TREATY It was not until 1837 that people be^an 
OF 1837 to realize the value of the timber land of 

Eastern Minnesota and planned to secure 
it of the Indians. During that year, Gov. Dodge of Wis- 
consin territory held a council with about twelve hundred 
Chippewa Indians at Fort Snelling, an assembly which Talia- 
ferro said was the largest gathering of Chippewas ever held 
in the territory. During this convention, the tribe ceded to 
the United States all pine lands along the St. Croix river 
system. 

Later, during the same, year, a delegation of twenty-six 
Sioux Indians from Kaposia, Red Wing, and Winona ac- 
companied by H. H. Sibley and Maj. Taliaferro, went to 
Washington and there ceded to the government their agri- 
cultural lands east of the Mississippi and the islands of thef 
river. In payment for these lands, the United States gave 
the Indians about $500,000. A large part of this sum was 
invested for the tribe, the interest being paid them annually. 

Previous to this treaty of 1837, the land now included in 
Minnesota was owned and held by the force of the red men. 
and the white men were able to settle here only by their 
permission. Now, as the ownership of the land changed from 
savage to civilized hands, conditions improved rapidly. The 
countrv^ was opened for settlement, and the hardy pioneer 
cut his way through the forests or plowed his way through 
primeval sod. 

The new era of progress began in Minnesota and the 
natives were gradually expelled from the land. 



-56— 



NOTES 

INDIAN The Sioux Indians had some very beautiful 
PIPES pipes which were made by the squaws. The 

stem was sometimes two or three feet long, 
made fiat, usually about two inches wide and half an inch 
thick. It was often painted with blue clay, which, after be- 
ing exposed to the atmosphere, turned green. The ornaments 
were porcupine quills, birds^ feathers and dyed hair of the 
deer. The bowls were of red stone. The designs were 
thoughtfully wrought and displayed much artistic skill. The 
Chippewas had pipes, quite similar, but showing variety in 
style. 

STORY OF WEXOXA. 

When the passengers on board our steamers of today are 
tra^'eling down the Mississippi Eiver, and through the beau- 
tiful waters of Lake Pepin, they are sure to hear some one ex- 
claim : "There is Maiden's Eock !" And if one's curiosity 
prompts him to ask why it is so called, he is apt to hear the 
Indian legend connected with it. Maj. Long's party, upon 
reaching the spot nearly one hundred years ago, had the 
same story told to them as a true romance in Indian life. 
It is as follows : 

In the Indian village of Keoxa, lived Ta ianl'a Manne 
or Wall-ing Buffalo, with his many sons and beautiful daugh- 
ter, Oholoaitha. 

Oholoaitha, being the eldest daughter, according to tiie 
Sioux custom, was called Wenona. She had that grace and 
charm, which made her a favorite with all the Wabasha tribe. 
Even her grandfather, the old chief Eed Wing, indulged her 
many whims and fancies. 

The young braves of the village vied with each other 
in attempts of noble valor, that they might win her ap- 
proval. Many came, decked in gay feathers, with painted 
faces, and dressed in their best buffalo skins, as suitors for 

—57— 



her liaiid ; but Wenoiia found time for only one, a hunter of 
their tribe. 

The young lovers^ roaming through the forest or sit- 
ting beside its sparkling streams, thought only of each other. 
Their happiness was complete and they planned soon to wed. 
When the hunter presented himself to Wenona's family, and 
told of their hopes, he was rejected, and driven from the 
village. 

Wenona's parents favored a young warrior who was popu- 
lar with the tribe also on account of his bravery in defend- 
ing the village when it was attacked by the Chippewas. Her 
brothers and father praised him, recounting his deeds and 
triumphs. This did not interest the maiden. She artfully 
argued for the hunter; that she loved him; that he would be 
with her always to protect and provide meat for her while 
the warrior would be away much of the time. 

When her family saw that they could not persuade her, 
and that argument was of no use, they sought to compel her. 
She begged to remain single, saying if she could not be al- 
lowed to live in happiness with the hunter, she refused to 
be made unhappy by marrying the warrior whom she loved 
not. 

A party was formed to go up Lake Pepin to get the 
bluBv clay found along its banks, and used for coloring by the 
Indians. The day was clear and fine, and Wenona went wit 
them. The warrior was again encouraged to try to persuade 
her to be his bride; but he was obstinately refused. This 
made her family angry and after chiding her for her un- 
grateful conduct, they told her that they would not listen 
to her lorn^er, and she should be obliged to do as they re- 
quested. They immediately began to prepare the feast to 
celebrate the weddina: ceremony. 

Wenona said, "Is this the love my father and brothers 
bear for me? Thev have separated my lover from me and 
now torment me with one of their own choice !" 

She sighed for the hunter, who roamed alone in the for- 
est with no squav/ to prepare his wigwam or cook his food. 

—08-- 



As her friends were busy and rejoicing over the occasion 
soon to be celebrated, Wenona withdrew from them and 
climbed to the high rock overlooking the lake. When she 
reached its top, she called to them and chided them for 
their unkindness to her. She then looked out over the 
water, and began singing her death song. 

Frantically, her friends and family cried to her to stop, 
only to listen to them. Some ran up the side of the clift, 
trying to reach her before it was too late; others remained 
at the foot of the cliff to catch her body. Her father called, 
"0, Wenona, I forbid that you be further annoyed; all prep- 
arations for this wedding will cease if only you will come 
back to gladden your father's heart V In vain did they call. 
Wenona finished her song, paused, leaped from the cliff, and 
fell dead at their feet. 

A true Indian story — showing that the heart of the 
savage beats as lovally for the one it loves, as does that of 
its civilized friend. 

LOVE TALE OF ST. ANTHOXY FALLS. 

A love tale is connected with St. Anthony Falls. In 
this valley many moons ago, a young Dakota Indian married 
an Indian maiden of whom he was very fond. With their 
two children they were abundantly blessed, and dwelt in 
peace and happiness. 

The brave was a hunter and because of his prosperity and 
ability to supply his friends and members of his tribe with 
fish and game, they were drawn to his lodge, and favor was 
bestowed on him. He soon began to accept this as a great 
honor, and when the members of his tribe suggested that 
he, like other great red men, should have more than one 
wife, his ambition led him to be persuaded, and he secretly 
married the daughter of an influential man of the village. 

He disliked to offend his worthy helpmate, and used 
all his powers of diplomacy when breaking the news to her. 
He artfully told her, how he loved her more than any other 
woman; but how his fame and popularity among his people, 

—59— 



brought many hardships on her and to relieve her from this 
arduous toil, he, for her sake, had decided to take a second 
wife. This wife, he assured her, was always to be a subject 
of her will. 

Not doubting his solicitation in her behalf, she told him 
how well and strong she was; she rehearsed the tale of their 
love and happiness in the past. Seeing that 'bis argument 
failed, the hunter finally told his wife, that words were un- 
necessary as he had already married and his second wife 
must be received. If she could not come with favor, then 
she sliould be accepted without it. 

The faithful squaw's life of peace and harmony was 
changed and gloom and dispair took its place. Under the 
cover of the darkness of night, taking her two children, she 
fled to the wigwam of her father. She stayed here until he 
and his friends went up the Mississippi River for their annual 
winter hunt. She accompanied them. The Indians spent sev- 
eral months killing the animals of the forest, and in the 
early spring, with their canoes loaded with skijQs, glided 
back down the river. 

They camped at St. Anthony Falls. The next morning, 
as they were about to pursue their way, the squaw put her 
children into the canoe, leaped in herself, and paddled down 
the stream. iVbove the noise of the water, could be heard 
her death song in plaintive accents, bewailing the loss of 
her husband's affection, and reciting his past love and their 
former happiness. 

Xearer and nearer to the falls she came, and as the 
last note of the dirge died away, the canoe with its three 
passensrers, was swept over the precipice to be lost forever 
from the sight of man. The Indians tell us that often in 
the earlv morning, her sad voice is still heard haunting this 
beautiful waterfall. 

THE LEGE]N^D OF PIPESTONE. 

Ages ago, a great flood came upon the Indian lands. 
The lowlands were covered and all the tribes gathered for 

—60— 



refuge upon the Coteau des Prairies, Mountain of the Prairies. 

Still the waters continued to rise until the people knew 
that even here they were not safe. As they waited for 
death, a great war eagle circled above them and came so 
near to a beautiful Indian maiden that she grasped his 
foot. Clinging to it, she was carried by the great bird far 
above the flood to a ledge at the summit of a distant moun- 
tain and so was saved. 

Her people were all drowned and the Gitche Manito 
(Great Spirit) turned their bodies into red stone; but the 
maiden married the war eagle and their children became the 
ancestors of the present Indian tribes. 

The Mountain of the Pl-airies with its red stone com- 
posed of the bodies of all races has ever since been sacred to 
peace; from this stone, the peace pipes are made and they 
are decorated with carvings representing the eagle and with 
eagle's feathers. 



-61- 



CHAPTER VI 

SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 

AS A TERRITORY 

1839-1858 

The news of the ratification of these treaties of 1837 
was received at Fort Snelling, June 15, 1838, and imme- 
diately, claims were staked out by citizens who had eagerly 
awaited this opportunity. One of these early settlers was 
Joseph Brown who filed a claim on the St. Croix, laid out 
the town-site of Stillwater, and built the first house there. 

Franklin Steele and Angus Anderson started before day- 
break, so fearful were they that some one else would fore- 
stall them in a claim they had in view on the north side of 
St. Anthony. 



JOSEPH BROWN Joseph Brown was born in Maryland 
AND in 1805. When fourteen, he ran away 

STILLWATER from home and came to Mendota with 

the detachment of troops who arrived 
here in 1819. He was a typical pioneer and was in turn, a 
trader, a lumberman, a prominent politician, and an editor. 
He married a Sioux and this fact gave him a certain in- 
fluence over the natives. 

Brown had a trading post at Grey Cloud Island, about 
twelve miles below St. Paul. When the treaties of 1837 were 
ratified^ he realized the fact that settlers would soon arrive 

-62— 



to take up the rich timber lands along the St. Croix and 
that the natural location for a village would be at the head 
of the St. Croix Lake. Accordingly, he with several others, 
took a pine claim on the river and in 1839, he laid out a 
tovrn site Avhich he called Dakotah, at the head of the lake, 
and half a mile above the original site of Stillwater. Brown 
also began the erection of a large log house, the first within 
the present limits of Stillwater. Two or three other cabins 
were built in 1840. 

In 1843, a company called the Stillwater Lumber Com- 
pany was organized and erected a saw-mill on the shore of 
the St. Croix. The name ^'Stillwater" was suggested by 
John McCusick, a member of this Company, in memory of 
his former home in Maine ; and the name soon came to be ap- 
plied to the village as well as to the mill. In 1844, the 
Lumljer Company did considerable business; a hotel, and 
a genei\al store with lumberman's supplies were built, and in 
1846, a post office was established. 

Lumber from the Stillwater mill was used in building 
the first frame houses of St. Paul including the Central 
House, which was our first "Capitol." 

Major Brown aided in staking out the first road from 
St. Paul to Prairie du Chien and also the first from Menclota 
to Lac qui Parle. 

He was a member of the Wisconsin legislature in 1840, 
'41 and '42 and was a member of the Territorial Legislature 
of Minnesota, most of the time from 1849 to 1857; he was 
also a member of the Constitutional Convention. His was 
a most eventful life, and he w^as so closely associated with 
our early history, that Brown County is most appropriately 
named for him. 

FRANKLIN Another pioneer who anxiouslv awaited the 
STEELE signing of the treaty of 1837 \'as Franklin 

Steele. Franklin Steele was born in Penn- 
sylvania. President Jackson advised him to come west and 
in 1838, he secured an appointment as post sutler for Fort 

—63— 



Snelling. He was then twenty-four years of age. 

Eealizing the magnitude of water power in the Falls 
of St. Anthony, as soon as the treaty was signed by the 
Chippewas, he hurried to take up a claim on the north side 
of the river adjoining the Falls. In 1848, he built here the 
first mill with the exception of the old government mill and 
so was the real founder of the great milling industry of Min- 
neapolis. 

Mr. Steele was closely associated with the early develop- 
ment of Minneapolis and of the state. He built the first 
suspension bridge across the river just above the falls; he 
urged Congress in 1855, to extend the pre-emption laws over 
a portion of the military reservation; it finally did so, thus 
opening up a large part of the area now Minneapolis, west 
of the river. Mr. Steele was also chosen a meml3er of the 
Board of Regents of the State University in 1851 and con- 
tributed largely toward the establishment of the preparatory 
department. 

EJECTION OP We have read that a few families of the 
RED RIVER Red River refugees had been allowed by 

REFUGEES Col. Snelling to settle lands near the fort. 

By Pike's treaty of 1805, this had become 
government land and the settlers believed they w^ere entitled 
to make homesteads here as on any government land; but 
the successors of Colonel Snelling looked upon them as in- 
truders and were not disposed to treat them kindly. Finally, 
in 1837, Major Plympton, commandant of the fort, and 
certain of his associates urged the government to reserve a 
portion of land near the fort as a military reserve and to 
eject from it all other persons. 

The reasons given for this ejection was the fear that 
the timber about the fort would be insufficient for the needs 
of both fort and settlers, and the fact that settlers near the 
fort supplied Indians with liquor. 

The latter claim was undoubtedly true but it w^as never 
proved that the Swiss settlers were the ones at fault; how- 



ever, these "Pilgrims of Minnesota" were again obliged to 
leave tlie little homes they had built and the farms thev had 
laboriously prepared for cultivation. Some of them left 
Minnesota and located at Prairie du Chien; others settled 
east of the Mississippi near Fountain Cave and within the 
present limits of the city of St. Paul. Here, they were soon 
joined by other settlers and the nucleus of the capital city 
was formed. 

NAME OF The early name of this settlement had 

NEW SETTLE- a curious derivation. ^N^ear Fountain 

MENT Cave, also located an intemperate, ill- 

looking old man called Pierre Parrant; 
he afterwards held a claim lying between the present streets 
of Jackson and Minnesota and back from the river to the 
bluffs. 

Still later, he held a claim on the flats below Dayton's 
Bluff. In each of these places, he built a hovel where he 
sold liquor to Indians and to traders in defiance of the laws 
of the fort. This Parrant had one good eye, the other was 
so ugly to look upon that he was called Pig's Eye. 

Partly in fun, a young man of the settlement, when 
writing a letter gave as his address, Pig's Eye. The an- 
swer, when it came, repeated the name and the settlement 
was for some time known by this ugly title derived from 
the nick name of one of its most undesirable citizens. 

THE MILITARY T^^ 1839, there arrived the expected or- 
RESERVATION der allowing the military reservation 
and giving its boundaries. 



Xote. Tliese were: ''Five miles up the Minnesota (St. 
Peter's) from its mouth; thence seven miles to include Lake 
Harriet; thence to Lake of the Isles; thence above St. An- 
thony Falls and across the Mississippi, about five mnes; 
thence southward to the Mississippi below Fountain Cave — 
the last line passing near Seven Corners in St. Paul.^' 



This reservation included a large part of what is now 
St. Paul and Minneapolis. It was granted in opposition to 
several remonstrances sent by settlers and by prominent men 
of the territory who felt that the request for the reservation 
arose from greed of men connected with the post, who wished 
perhaps to gain control of lands about the Falls where they 
had already made claims. 

In any event, this driving the settlers from the reserva- 
tion prohibited the building of a city at the junction of the 
Minnesota and Mississippi rivers which was its most prob- 
able location; and led to the founding of two cities on the 
Mississippi at the extremities of the reservation but as near 
as might be to the fort from which they hoped for pro- 
tection from the Indians, and a market for their products. 

ilQUOR From the time of the earliest fur traders, liq- 
TRAFFIC Qor had been inchided in the list of articles 
supplied by the merchants and carried by the 
traders to exchange with the Indians for their valuable furs. 
The crime and misery resulting from this curse can hardly 
be described. An entire nation who, before the coming of 
the whites, had been self-supporting and contented, became 
cruel and lazy, ready to dispose of guns, blankets, food, any- 
thing, for this curse brought among them by the race who 
should have aided civilization. The Indians congregated 
about the early settlement of St. Paul where liquor could be 
obtained and wandering away, often fell from the bluffs, and 
were frozen, or were devoured by wolves. Often intoxicated 
liands were a menace to the isolated settler. Thus our capital 
lield in its early history, a most undesirable reputation. 

CHAPEL OF There were, however, also elements working 
ST. PAUL for good. , In 1839 Bishop Loras of Du- 
buque visited Mendota and became interested 
in the settlers there and felt their need of church services. 

Accordingly, the next spring, he sent Father Lucien Gal- 
tier as a missionary into the field. He established a church 

—66— 



at ^leiulota and, in 1841, wishing to extend his work amon^ 
the settlers on the right bank of the river, encouraged the 
people of Pig's Eye to build a little chapel which he dedi- 
cated to St. Paul. The landing near the chapel was soon called 
St. Paul's Laiiding and finally the name St. Paul came to 
be applied to the entire settlement. 

James Goodhue, an early resident of the town, com- 
mented on this in a New Year's address in 1850: 
"Pig's Eye, converted shalt thou be like Saul; 
Arise, and be, henceforth, St. Paul." 

FIRST POST In 1846, a regular line of steamboats was 
OFFICE IN established on the Mississippi and, dur- 

ST. PAUL ing that same year, a post office was 

opened in St. Paul with Henry Jackson 
as first postmaster. Williams thus describes the first post 
office : "Out of some old packing cases, or odd boards, he 
constructed a rude case about two feet square, and contain- 
ing sixteen pigeon-holes. These were labelled with initial 
letters." 

BATTLE OF :\reantime the deadly feud still existed be- 
KAPOSIA tween the Chippewa and the Sioux tribes in 

spite of all interventions for peace. When 
in the spring of 1841, three Dakota Indians were killed 
near Fort Snelling by three lawless Chippewa desperadoes, 
Little Crow with a band of Kaposia warriors attacked the 
enemy at Saint Croix Falls, while another party from the 
Sioux tribe sought revenge at Pokegama in the Ojibway ter- 
ritory. They did little damage, but aroused the hostility of 
that tribe. 

In 1842, a war party consisting of forty Chippewas from 
Fond du Lac, started from their part of the country to make 
trouble for the Sioux enemy. They first went to council 
w4th the Chippewa band at Mille Lacs. The time spent there 
was one of feasting and Indian revelr\', then, accompanied by 
members of this tribe, making a party of one hundred 

—67— 



warriors, they decided to -attack the band of Big Thunder 
(Little Crow Xo. 4). 

They passed along the St. Croix valley reaching Pig's 
Eye in the evening. Here they camped for the night, in- 
tending to raid the settlement by daylight. The following 
day, scouts went out to find the exact location of the Sioux. 
The scouts ran across a half breed whom they recognized as 
a Chippewa, and asked him questions concerning the Sioux. 
This half-breed, who had come from Selkirk Colony, was 
now employed at the Eed Eock Mission. He instantly re- 
turned to the mission, which sent out two Sioux runners 
to notify the Ivaposia Indians of the enemy's approach. 

Francois Gammel, a French Canadian, who was married 
to a Sioux, lived on the lowland at Pig's Eye. Creeping 
along through the brush, the Chippewas came across Gam- 
mers hut, and being blood thirsty, and eager for an attack, 
they shot and killed three persons engaged in hoeing corn 
on the Gammel place. 

These shots were heard by the Ivaposia Sioux, who, hav- 
ing also received notice from Eed Eock, shook off the drunk- 
en sleep in which they were indulging, aroused themselves 
to action, and met the Chippewas on the flats at the foot of 
the bluff. Here was one of the fiercest Indian battles which 
lasted several hours. The soldiers from Ft. Snelling, who 
were sent out to stop the attack, arrived in time to see the 
Chippewa forced to retreat and driven through the timber 
toward Stillwater. 

THE TERRITORY In May, 1848, Wisconsin was ad- 
ORGANIZED mitted as a state with the St. Croix 

as its western boundary; thus the 
part of Minnesota previously a county of Wisconsin was left 
out of the state. 

As no other provision had been made for the government 
of that area between the Mississippi and the St. Croix, it 
was supposedly still the "Territory of Wisconsin." A? such, 
a convention regularly called, elected Henry Sibley as terri- 



torial delegate from that territory to Congress. After some 
difficulty, he was allowed a seat and devoted himself during 
the session to urging upon Congress the passage of a bill 
then before the house, to organize the territory of Minne- 
sota. On the very last day of the session, the bill passed, 
March 3, 1849. 



Xote. Williams' Hist, of St. Paul. "A communication 
in the first number of the Pioneer graphically describes the 
reception of the news of the organization of the Territory," 
under the caption, "The Breaking up of a Hard Winter :" 
''The last has been the severest winter known in the North- 
west for many years. During five months the communication 
between this part of the country and our brethren in the 
United States has been difficult ' and unf requent. A mail 
now and then from Prairie du Chien, brought ui> on the 
ice in a train drawn sometimes by horses, sometimes by dogs, 
contained new^s so old that the country below had forgotten 
all a])0ut it. When the milder weather commenced and the 
ice became unsafe, we were completely shut out from all 
communication for several weeks. We had to wait for the 
arrival of the first boat to learn whether our Territory was 
organized and who were its Federal officers. How anxious- 
ly was that boat expected ! The ice still held its iron grasp on 
Lake Pepin. For a week the arrival of a boat had been looked 
for every hour. Expectation was on tiptoe. 

Monday, the ninth of April, had been a pleasant day. 
Toward evening, the clouds gathered, and about dark com- 
menced a violent storm of rain, wind, and loud peals of 
thunder. The darkness was only dissipated by vivid flashes 
of lightning. All of a sudden, in a momentary lull of the 
wind, the silence was broken by the groan of an engine. 
In another moment, the shrill whistle of a steamboat shrilled 
the air ; another moment, and a vivid flash of lightning re- 
vealed the welcome shape of a steamboat just rounding the 
bluff, less than a mile below St. Paul. In an instant the 



welcome news flashed throughout the town, and, regardless 
of the pelting rain, the raging wind, and the pealing thun- 
'der, almost the entire male population rushed to the land- 
ing. At length the news was known, and one glad shout 
resounding through the hoat taken upon shore, and eclioed 
from our bluffs and rolling hills, proclaimed that the bill 
If or the organization of Minnesota territory had become a 
law/' 



Boundaries of territory : The boundaries were the same 
as at present except that it extended on the west to the 
Missouri River making its area about double what it is at 
'present. 

SUCCESSIVE 4nd now Eastern and Western Minne- 

GOVERNMENTS sota were united under one territorial 
OF MINNESOTA government. Eastern Minnesota had 
previously been under the organized 
government of the Xorthwest Territory, Indiana, Michigan, 
Illinois, and Wisconsin. Western Minnesota had been in 
the Territory of Louisiana, and in Missouri, Michigan, Wis- 
consin, and Iowa. Iowa became a state in 1845 with her 
present boundaries and, until 1847, western Minnesota had 
no organized government. 

GOVERNOR In April, 1849, Alexander Eamsey was ap- 
RAMSEY pointed by President Taylor to be our first 

territorial governor. Mr. Eamsey was tlien 
thirty-four years of age. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
a staunch Whig, and had served two terms in Congi-ess. From 
the date of his appointment until his death, he was one of 
the foremost citizens of the state. 

POPULATION OF We have seen that the boundaries of 
TERRITORY Minnesota were greatly extended at 

the time of her territorial organiza- 
tion ; but in all this 166,000 square miles, the census shows 
us that in 1849, there were only 4,680 people. 317 of these 

—TO— 



were connected witli the army and 637 were at Pembina. St. 
Panl boasted a population of 840 and Stillwater, 609. This 
was a meager population for so great an area but with the 
announcement of its organization as a territory, immigration 
increased rapidly. E. S. Seymour in his ^^Sketches of Min- 
nesota," tells us of St. Paul at this time : ^'Everything here 
appeared to be on the liigh pressure principle. A dwelling 
house for a family could not be rented. The only hotel was 
small and full to overflowing. While travelling in Minnesota, 
I made my headquarters in St. Paul, wdiere I occasionally tar- 
ried a day or two at a boarding house, consisting of one room 
about 16 feet square in which 16 persons, men, w^omen, and 
children contrived to lodge." 

When Gov. Ramsey arrived wath his wdfe in May, he was 
the guest for some time of Mr. Sibley of Mendota. 

FIRST Among the early arrivals in the new ter- 

NEWSPAPER ritory was James Goodhue, who came lo 
St. Paul from Wisconsin and established 
liere the first newspaper of Minnesota, The Minnesota 
Pioneer. Mr. Goodhue was a typical pioneer, energetic and 
enterprising with a considerable fund of good humor and 
common sense. 

The present Pioneer Press is a direct descendant of the 
Minnesota Pioneer. 



'Note. Mr. Goodhue says in his first issue: "We pre- 
sent and issue this number of the Pioneer in a building 
through which out-of-doors is visible by more than 500 aper- 
tures ; and as for our type, it is not safe from being pied on 
the galleys by the wind." 

Another notice describes further his difficulties : 
"Stop That Rooting Under Our Floor! We are no 
Jew, but a gentile, or the rooting nation under our editorial 
sanctum, instead of respectful notice w4th our pen, would 
get punched with a sharp stick. N'ot that we would find 
fault w^ith the pigs, for this is all owing to their bringing 
up. But really, our equanimity is somewhat ruffled, if 

—71— 



our chair is not jostled, by the movement of their hard backs 
under our loose floor." 

FIRST In July, Gov. Eamsey divided the territory 

ELECTION into seven council districts and ordered the 
first election, Aug. 1. The first territorial 
legislature met in the Old Central House of St. Paul^ Sept. 
4, 1845). It consisted of nine councillors and eighteen lep- 
resentatives. 

FIRST Some of the actions of this first legisla- 

LEGISLATURE ture are especially noteworthy. They 
founded the Historical Society of Min- 
nesota, and they organized a system of free schools. Every 
+o\vnship containing not less than five families was to be 
considered a school district. It had hitherto been customary 
in every newly organized territory, to grant one section in 
each township for school purposes. Minnesota was the first 
territory in which this grant was doubled. Owing to this 
fact we have one of the largest school funds of the United 
States. With an area of over 53,000,000 acres, this grant 
has already receipted us over $20,000,000. Of this only the 
interest is exjDended for school purposes being distributed to 
the counties according to school attendance. Besides this 
grant, liberal areas have been allowed for a state university 
with an agricultural college and experimental farms. 

FIRST In 1846, Dr. Williamson, then a missionary 

SCHOOL among the Dakota Indians wrote Ex-Governor 
Slade of Vermont, president of the National 
Popular Educational Society, asking him to send to Min- 
nesota a teacher for the white children of the village of St. 
Paul. In response to this call, in 1848, came Miss Harriett 
Bishop to St. Paul and Miss Amanda Horsford to Stillwater. 
In 1849, Miss Backus arrived at St. Anthony, also as a 
teacher. 

Miss Bishop began her work in St. Paul' in July, 1848, 
and thus describes her first school house: "Some wooden 

—72— 



pins had been driven into the logs across which rough 
boards were placed for seats. The luxury of a chair was 
accorded to the teacher, and a cross-legged table occupied the 
center of the loose floor." Only five pupils were enrolled at 
the opening of this school; but in the spring of 1849, a 
second school House was built, another teacher, Miss Mary 
Scofield, arrived; and ample means were provided for the 
instruction of 150 pupils. Harriet Island of St. Paul was 
named in honor of Miss Bishop. 

MISSIONARY Missionary schools had, before this, been 
WORK established among the Indians in various 

parts of the state. In 1834, Samuel and 
Gideon Pond came to Minnesota from New England as mis- 
sionaries. They established a mission at Lake Calhoun. Here 
also, they built a school and sought to teach agriculture. Oth- 
er similar missions were established about 1835, at Lac qui 
Parle and Traverse des Sioux by the Presb3'terian Board, 
with Dr. Eiggs and Dr. Williams as missionaries. The Swiss 
olso sent two men into this field, Messrs. Denton and Ga- 
\in, who located at Red Wing. 

These early missionaries were most zealous workers. 
At their schools they taught English but devoted a great 
deal of time, also, to a study of the Dakota language. Por- 
tions of the Scripture and many school books were translated 
into the Indian tongue. They brought looms and taught the 
Indian women to weave. Probably the first cloth manufac- 
tured in Minnesota was some linsey-woolsey woven by Indian 
girls at Lac qui Parle mission in 1830. The missionaries 
also brought plows and cultivated small farms, w^hile they 
tried to teach the Indians to do the same. Their experiments 
proved the agricultural possibilities of the state. The trad- 
ers, in most instances, opposed the education of the Indians 
and often stirred up opposition to the missionaries among the 
Indians themselves. Their cattle were sometimes killed and 
their fields destroyed. Besides these discouragements, they 
met the usual hardships of the pioneer. 

—73— 



In the spring of 1837, Mrs. Denton heard that her hus- 
band was very ill at Ft. Snelling. With two Indian women 
as companions, she made her way to him np the river, about 
a hundred miles, in a canoe, sleeping two nights on the snow 
covered ground. 

This is only one instance of many that could be given 
showing the courage of these pioneer women. 

The mission at Lac qui Parle was the most successful, 
largely through the help of Joseph Eenville, chief trader of 
that region. A church was built here in 1841 and its bell 
was the first in Minnesota. In 1846, Little Crow invited Dr. 
Williams to establish a mission at Kaposia. 

When, after the treaties of 1851, the Indians were re- 
moved to their reservations, Drs. Williams and Riggs went 
with them to continue their labors; other missionaries re- 
mained to preach to the incoming white settlers. 

Note. The father of Joseph Eenville was a French fur- 
trader who spent many years in Minnesota. When he be- 
came old, he felt the need of someone to hoe his corn and 
prepare his food and, according to the custom of the coun- 
try, he purchased a wife. She was of the Kaposia band of 
Sioux. 

The white settlers in Minnesota were then very few and, 
•until little Joseph was ten years of age, he had seen no white 
man but his father. At that time, the Indian mother de- 
serted her white husband for one of her own tribe and the 
elder Renville, remembering the associations of his own 
youth, took his little son with him across the wilderness to 
the settlements of Southern Canada. Here he left the boy 
/Under the care and instruction of a Catholic priest and re- 
turned alone. 

The priest was kind and a faithful instructor and taught 
young Joseph the principles of the Christian religion and to 
speak French. 

In a few years, the elder Renville, knowing that death 
was near, sent for his son to return. Renville's life there- 
after was among his mother's people; but he was honored 

—74— 



b}^ wiuTco as well as Indians for his courage, honesty, and 
sound counsel. His knowledge of French made him valuable 
as an interpreter. 

Dickson, the British officer, employed him as a coureur 
des hois and, while he was still a youth, he had guided a 
canoe from Pokegama Falls to St. Anthony Falls and knew 
well the trail from St. Anthony to the Missouri. 

He was Pike's interpreter in 1805 and Pike was so 
well pleased with his services that he recommended him strong- 
ly as United States interpreter. 

When the war with England began in 1812, Renville 
was persuaded by Dickson to take up arms against the Unite(? 
States. He was given an appointment as captain in the 
British army and with other Indian warriors from the upper 
Mississippi, engaged in the frontier warfare against the 
Americans. 

Penville was with Little Crow when in 1815, at Drum- 
mond's Island, he met a British officer who gave them pres- 
ents and thanked them for their participation in the war. 
Little Crow pushed the gifts aside with the words ; 
"You persuaded us to make war on a people we hardly knew. 
You make peace for yourselves and leave us to get such terms 
as we can. We will not take your gifts but hold them and 
yourselves in equal contempt.'^ 

After the war, Eenville lived in Canada for awhile 
working for the Hudson Bay Fur Company but he returned 
to Minnesota and for many j^ears had an important trading 
post on Lac qui Parle (The Lake That Talks). He it was 
w^ho invited Dr. Williams to establish a mission there. He had 
married a Sioux by Christian rites and desired that his chil- 
dren should be educated. Until his death, he was a stanch 
supporter of the mission. 

TRANSPORTATION Most of the early pioneers of Min- 
nesota settled along water courses, 
and the birch bark canoe of the native was a con- 
venient means of transportation. In 1823, as already 
noted, the first steamboat made its way to the mouth of the 
St. Peter's. This was followed by others ; a trip to the ^^'ilds 

— 75— 



of the Upper Mississippi," became a favorite pleasure ex- 
cursion for people of the lower river valley. In 1851, a 
regular steamboat route was established from St. Louis to 
St, Paul and Stillwater. In these early days, steamers were 
also able to ascend the Minnesota as far as Mankato; and in 
1860, the Burbank Company organized a line of steamboat 
transportation on the Eed Eiver of the Xorth. 

The means of inland transportation was always more 
difficult to find. A pioneer in this line was Xorman Kitt- 
son. 

PEMBINA The Red River Valley had, from the time of 
CARTS earliest exploration of Minnesota, furnished 

great quantities of furs. Prior to 1844, these 
were carried to the Atlantic via. the Hudson Bay route, a 
long and difficult journey. In 1844, Norman Kittson in 
connection with the American Fur Company of Mendota, es- 
tablished a fur-trading post at Pembina in the extreme 
northwest corner of Minnesota. This village then con- 
sisted of a few hundred French half-breeds. Kittson col- 
lected here, in 1848, about two thousand dollars worth of 
furs which he transported to Mendota in carts. The carts 
returned loaded with goods. This was the beginning of a 
trade which lasted until about 1867 when the St. Paul and 
Pacific Railway was built. In 1855, about fifty thousand dol- 
lars worth of furs were carried over the route. At that time 
the trade was about at its height. In 1857, five hundred 
carts came over the trail to St. Paul. Her fur trade for 
that year amounted to $182,491. 

The Pembina cart was a curious vehicle. It was made 
entirely of wood and leather, had two wheels and carried 
from six to seven hundred pounds, and was drawn by an 
ox or ]:)ony. The carts left Pembina in a train early m 
June and were usually a month or six weeks in making the 
jouruey. Sometimes one driver managed several carts by 
tying eacli pony to the tail of the preceding cart and guid- 
ing tlie leading animal. 

—76— 



As the wheels were never greased, the screeching axles 
of these primitive wagons gave warning long in advance, 
of the approaching train. 

The drivers were half-hreeds called Bois B rules, dressed 
in odd, half-civilized garments with bright sashes and bar- 
baric ornaments. 

When the party camped for the night, the carts were 
arranged in a great circle with the poles toward the cen- 
ter and camp was made within the circle. Thus was ar~ 
ranged a fairly good fort. The encampment w^as carefully 
guarded against the attack of marauding savages or wild 
beasts. 

The Red Eiver trade was a very profitable one for 
Mendota and later, for St. Paul; and the arrival of the 
Pembina carts was an important event to the city mer- 
chants and traders. 



Xote. Xorman Kittson was a Canadian and a grand- 
son of a noted explorer of Revolutionary days who explored 
the Lake Superior region and Manitoba and Saskatchewan 
districts. 

In 1830, when Mr. Kittson was a boy of sixteen, he was 
employed by the American Fur Company and stationed at 
a trading post between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, 
where he remained for two years. In 1834, he came to Ft. 
Snelling as sutler of the post and later established a trading 
post at Cold Spring near the Fort. In 1843, be became a 
partner in the American Fur Company having charge of 
all their business at the head waters of the Minnesota, and 
along the British line. He made his head quarters at Pem- 
bina and there collected furs to send to Mendota. 

In 1854, he removed to St. Paul and became partner in 
an establishment called "The St. Paul Outfit" which was a 
supply house for traders. 

Mr, Kittson was a member of the Council of the Min- 
nesota Legislature for four years, 1852 to 1856. Two items 
given in the Pioneer of that time, help us to appreciate 

—77— 



somewhat the difficulty with which he represented that dis- 
tant district. In 1852, a correspondent from Sauk Eapids 
writes : "The honorable members elected to the House and 
Council, from Pembina, viz: Messrs. Kittson, Roulette, and 
Gingras, arrived at Crow Wing on Christmas Eve, in six- 
teen days from home, stopping two days at Eed Lake on 
the way. Each had his cariole, drawn by three fine dogs, 
harnessed tastily, with jingling bells, and driven tandem, at 
2 :40 at least, when put to their speed. They usually trav- 
eled from 30 to 40 miles per day and averaged about thirty- 
five miles. They fed the dogs but once a day, on the trip, 
and that at night, a pound of pemmican each. On this, 
they draw a man and baggage as fast as a good horse would 
travel, and, on long journeys, they tire horses out." 

Again, in 1853, the Pioneer notes that Messrs. Kittson, 
Gingras, and Roulette, members from Pembina, walked the 
entire distance to St. Paul (about five hundred miles) on 
snow shoes and over snow two feet deep. 

It was largely through the enterprise of Mr. Kittson 
that the Northwest was opened for development and in 
recognition of that fact, two counties, Norman and Kittson, 
were named for him. 

Later, Mr. Kittson was associated with J. J. Hill in 
])uilding the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Rail- 
wav. 



ROUTE The first regular stage route in Minnesota was 
STAGE established by Amherst Willoughby and Simon 
Powers between St. Paul and St. Anthony in 
1849. The following winter, they opened a line from St. 
Paul to Prairie du Chien ; and, in 1854, another from St. 
Paul to Shakopee. In 1851, they put on the first Concord 
coacli brought to Minnesota. This was a heavy closed vehicle 
built to withstand the rough roads and heavy loading of 
those days. 

—78— 



In 1853, another coach line was opened from Stillwater 
through Minnesota and Iowa to Dubuque and thence to 
Galena, Illinois, to the nearest railroad. This trip was ad- 
vertised to take four days. A line in opposition to this was 
opened two years later and ran from St. Paul through 
Lakeville, Owatonna and Austin to Dubuque; another line 
was organized from St. Paul to Superior, Wisconsin. 

At this time, (1855) eight coaches left St. Paul daily 
for Minneapolis, Crow Wing, Mankato, New Ulm, Hudson, 
Wisconsin, and Stillwater. These stages were often open 
wagons with two or four horses. Their trips were begun in 
the very early morning; sometimes ten miles or so were 
traversed before breakfast. The wagons were piled high 
with freight; roads were ungraded; streams were often un- 
bridged and delays were frequent. Sometimes it would be 
necessary to spend a night at a frontier cabin. The journey 
was worse during the winter wlien it was not unusual to be 
snow-bound at some wayside for days. 

EXPRESS The first express line was started by James Bur- 
bank in 1850 and ran from St. Paul to Galena, 
Illinois. ^Ir. Burbank also carried mail over this route. 
His ])usiness was at first very light and he was able to carry 
all the mail in one bag and all the express in one pocket; but 
it grew so rapidly that, the following year, the North West- 
ern Express Company of which Burbank was a member, was 
organized and offices were established in all the larger vil- 
lao-es. 



79— 



OCCUPATION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 

TREATY OF Before 1850, very little was known of 
TRAVERSE the territory west of the Mississippi Riv- 

DES SIOUX er. As there were no railroads, the only 

entrance to this wild, fertile, prairie land 
was by canoes np the Minnesota River or by the Indian 
trails; but, as soon as steamboats began making excursions 
on this stream, the beauty of scenery, and the undeveloped 
wealth of this Sioux territory became generally known to 
the people of the east. 

The flow of westward immigration had increased rapidly 
so that the unoccupied area was coveted by the settlers who 
crowded into St. Paul and St. Anthony. The authorities 
at Washington were pressed on every side to secure this ter- 
ritory from the Sioux tribes who held and guarded it well. 
Hon. H. H. Sibley and Gov. Ramsey went to Waslnngton 
and their persuasion, together with a memorial from the 
legislature, led to the appointment of a commission to ne- 
gotiate a treaty. Gov. Ramsey and Col. Luke Lea, the na- 
tional commissioner of Indian affairs were appointed as the 
commissioners. 

The fur trading companies, who had formerly opposea 
any terms that would lead to the settlement of the land 
were now in favor of the western cession; animals had been 
hunted so mercilessly for their pelts that their numbers had 
suffered a remarkable decrease and the returns of the fur 
trade had correspondingly dwindled ; the years immediately 
preceding had been marked by destitution among the sav- 
ages and the companies claimed that the Indians owed them 
about five hundred thousand dollars. A provision of tne 
treaty arranged for the payment of the "just debts" of the 
Indians, out of the money received from the government, 
and the traders were hopeful. 

Traverse des Sioux (crossing) on the Minnesota River 
about two miles east of St. Peter and the natural Capital 
of the Sioux, was selected as the meeting place of the tribes 

—80— . 



with the whites. The Indians were reluctant to make the 
treaty but finally, July 2'S, the upper Sioux sold all their 
lands to Minnesota for $1,665,000, except a reservation of 
twenty miles along both sides of the Minnesota from its 
source to the Yellow Medicine. On August 5, a similar 
paper was signed by the lower Sioux at Mendota. The low- 
er reservation was from the Yellow Medicine to New Ulm. 
This territory included about 21,000,000 acres. 
TREATY The Sioux Indians owned the long narrow 
1858 strip of territory on both sides of the Minne- 

sota River. This included some of the most 
fertile land in the state; but w^as little used by the savages 
who lived mainly on the south side of the river. The land 
owned by the government had been rapidly taken by settlers* 
from eastern states and the increasing immigration led to a 
fervent and frequently expressed desire for the ^'wasted 
land^^ of the Sioux. 

Major Brown, Sioux agent, used all his influence to 
bring about a treaty of cession of this territory. Some of 
the chiefs and leading men of the bands of Sioux were per- 
suaded to go to Washington, where they were royally treat- 
ed. June 19, 1858, a treaty was negotiated which gave to 
tlie government a strip of land north of the Minnesota, ten 
miles in width and extending from the western boundary to 
a few miles east of St. Peter, including about eight hun- 
dred thousand acres. 

The price paid was $30 per acre, and from the sum To 
l)e received, the Sioux must pay the ever hungry trader 
debts to the amount of $140,000. 

As soon as this land was opened for settlement, its oc- 
cupation began; and rapid strides were made in its de- 
velopment. 

EARLY The conclusion of the treaties of 1851 

SETTLEMENT and 1858 with the subsequent removal of 
the Indians to reservations, threw open 
a great territory to settlement. 

—81^ 



The northern portion with lier rich deposits of iron ore 
and her magnificent forests, was out of the reach of steam- 
boat transportation and hence was not settled so early as 
the more accessible southern portion. 

Southern Minnesota, between the Minnesota river and 
the Iowa boundary, is an elevated plain or table land. Along 
the rivers are often high blufls but back of the water courses 
extend broad undulating prairies interspersed with belts of 
forest. Xumerous lakes dot its surface and water power is 
abundant. 

The land was ready for the plow and yielded an abund- 
ant harvest the first season of its cultivation. Xever did a 
land give fairer promise to the immigrant and it is not 
strange that, in these years of a mad rush of immigration 
to the gold fields of the far west, many turned aside to 
the quiet vales and fertile prairies of Minnesota, there to find 
a safer, surer road to prosperity. 

About 1855, land districts were established and land 
offices where titles could be obtained to pre-empted lands 
were opened at Brownsville, Eed Wing, Winona and Min- 
neapolis. 

IMMIGRATION The years 1855, '56, '57 were the three 
great years of immigration in our terri- 
torial history. The census of 1855 announced a population 
of 53,600. This number was doubled in 1856. The sale of pub- 
lic lands which had been 314,000 acres in 1854 rose to over 
one million acres in 1855, and to over two million acres in 
1856. The greater portion of these settlers came from the 
Middle States, the Northwestern States and from Xew Eng- 
land. From this great increase in the sale of land, it is evi- 
dent that many came intending to stay and make here their 
permanent homes, but an unusually large proportion re- 
mained in tlie villages. 

SPECULATION The country at large was wild with 

speculation. With the great rise in 

population, it seemed a natural conclusion that the price 

—82— 



of bind should rapidly advance. Speculators were every- 
where; towns were platted in anticipation of coming rail- 
roads: town lots were sold at exorbitant prices; money was 
scarce : every one was in debt ; and rates of interest were as 
high as 3 per cent a month on notes which, if not paid at 
maturity, promised even 5 per cent a month. 

PANIC OF '57 Suddenly, with the failure of some large 
eastern corporations, the bubble burst; and 
cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis were left without mon- 
ey to carry on business. There was a sudden revulsion among 
tlie people away from speculation and toward the cultivation 
of the soil. 

Thousands of farms were opened; experiments in rais- 
ing wheat, corn and other grains were surprisingly success- 
ful : and, in about ten years, Minnesota had a surplus of 
over forty thousand bushels of wheat for export. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF MINNEAPOLIS 

St. Anthony Falls had been the site of a government 
flour mill as already noted and in 1847, a saw mill was 
Imilt there and the town site of St. Anthony was laid out. 
The first settlers of Minneapolis were mostly lumbermen 
from the east, particularly from Maine. They were honest 
and industrious, typical j^ioi^eers. In 1850, however, St. 
Antliony had only about five hundred forty inhabitants. The 
settlement nearest the falls was called Upper Town while a 
collection of cabins on the present university campus and 
near a hotel owned by Mr. Cheever was called Lower Town 
or Cheever Town. This hotel stood on the old territorial 
road. 

On the west side of the river a little settlement called 
All i^ainff( was started by Colonel Stevens who built there 
for himself and Mr. Steele, the first frame house of Minne- 
apolis. In recent years this house was removed to Minne- 
haha Park by the school children of Minneapolis. 

Charles Hoag of All Saints devised for it a name Min- 

—83— 



?ie ha polis, meaning "City of Laughing Water." In 1855, 
this town had a population of over three thousand; a sus- 
pension bridge connected it with St. Anthony; and it boast- 
ed a newspaper, a sawTiiill, post office, government land of- 
fice, and three organized churches. 

In 1872, Minneapolis and St. Anthony were united un- 
der one city government with a population of twenty thou- 
sand. 

Even in the early territorial days, we find the founders 
of Minneapolis anxious to provide schools for their chil- 
dren, and in 1856, the Board of Education selected the block 
where the City Hall now stands as the site of a Union School 
building and they built here "a double brick school house, 
the best school building north of St. Louis" and about two- 
hundred fifty pupils enrolled as students during the first 
year, 1857. 

Unfortunately this building was burned in 1864, but the 
Washington was erected on the same site and opened m 
1867. Within a year, there were twenty-seven teachers em- 
ployed in the city and the system wdiich has since achieved 
sucii notal)le results in the educational world was well be- 
gun. 

Minneapolis was from its beginning a manufacturing 
center, and in 1868, her manufactured products were valued 
at five million dollars. Of these flour was chief. The mill- 
ing industry is treated elsewhere. 

SETTLEMENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN 
MINNESOTA 

The first territorial legislature had created eight coun- 
ties in Minnesota; Itasca, Wabasha, Dakota, Wahnahtah, 
Mankato, Pembina, Washington, Ramsey, and Benton. Of 
these, two, Wabasha and Dakota, embraced all the territory 
lying south of the Minnesota River. Some of the earliest 
settlements of -these counties were made at Winona, Red 
Wing, and Wabasha. 

—84— 



The first white settlers who visited this region v/ere 
missionaries and fur-traders. 

For several years, the Swiss maintained as one of their 
"foreign missions'^ a station under Messrs. Denton and Gavin 
on Lake Pepin. In 1842, Father Eavoux constructed a log 
building for a church, and floated it on a raft from St. 
Paul to Wabasha where it was set up with ceremony and 
used for several years. In 1850, Congress constructed a 
military road from Mendota to Wabasha, a distance of about 
seventy-five miles. Trading posts were frequent along the 
river. A half-breed, La Bathe, held several; one on the 
present site of Wabasha, one where Minnesota City now 
stands, and another at the mouth of the White Water near 
Bald Bluff. 

WINONA Explorers, traversing the prairies west of Wi- 
nona, Red Wing, and Wabasha saw the pos- 
sibility of the location of a large commercial city at a point 
on the river affording a good steamboat landing and a dis- 
tributing center for outlying districts. 

Wabasha's Prairie appeared to answer these qualifica- 
tions but there was a tradition among the Indians that this 
^•alley was sometimes entirely overflowed; hence the first 
actual settler, W. B. Bunnell, located his claim at Homer, 
1849, believing it the better site; and Xathan Brown, ar- 
]ivin,2f tlie same year, located at Dacotah. 

^ The first to select Wabasha Prairie as a town site was 
Capt. Orrin Smith, a steamboat captain, whose many years 
of experience navigating the Mississippi had led him to 
dou])t the story of the flooding of the valley. In 1851, Capt. 
Smith made his claim in this valley including both the up- 
per and lower steam boat landings. Other settlers of the 
same year were Silas Stevens, George Clark, and Edwin 
Hamilton. 

An organization known as "Western Farm and Village 
Association" was established in New York in 1851. Its pur- 
pose was to aid its members to leave the city and form a 

—85— 



colony in the lands opened for settlement in the west. The 
founder and president of the association, William Haddock, 
and one companion, • exploring for a favorable location for 
this colony, arrived at Wabasha^s Prairie February, 1852. 
After encamping here for a night, they proceeded up Straight 
Slough on their skates under the impression that this was 
the Mississippi, and followed it to the valley of the Eolling 
Stone. An opening in this valley seemed to Haddock an 
ideal place for the location of his colony and, reaching an 
agreement with the settler who had already taken a claim 
here, he took several adjacent claims for the Association and 
began the business of laying out a town plat. 

During the summer that followed, nearly five hundred 
settlers consisting of members of the Association and their 
families arrived at this settlement which they named ^lin- 
nesota City. A post ofi^ice was establshed, religious serv- 
ices were held, wheat was planted, a good harvest gathered, 
and the colony seemed well under way; but the failure of any 
boats to navigate the Slough even during high water and an 
epidemic of fever through which several lost their lives, so 
disheartened the community that most of the settlers aoan- 
doned their new homes. Some sought employment In :^t. 
Paul or La Crosse; others settled in the little village now 
growing about Captain Smith's steamboat landing. 

The summer of 1852, brought immigrants with every 
boat to this village. Like St. Paul, it was crowded to its 
utmost in the attempt to accommodate new settlers. Abner 
Goddard, built that summer, a large shanty which served as 
a hotel, the first hotel of Winona. This hotel was an im- 
portant building of the time; the first school assembled here; 
here church services were held; and it was tlie scene of many 
social affairs. 

A post office, Montezuma, was established at the Prairie 
but this name was not approved by the settlers and in 1853, 
it was changed to Winoifa. 

In 1854, the county of Winona was created and it had 
then about eight hundred inhabitants; but in 1855, with 

—86— 



the filial removal of the Indians to a reservation and the 
estahlishment of a land office at Winona, the lands west of 
the village were thrown open to setters. So great an immi- 
gration followed that in January, 1855, tlie population of 
the village alone was three thousand. 

Some of the industries that still tlirive in the city were 
begun. A steam flour mill, two steam saw mills and a steam 
planing mill were put in operation. 

A city charter was granted in March, 1857. Winona, 
a gateway for the shipping of agricultural products raised on 
tlie fertile plains at her west, with her facilities for lumber 
manufacture and river transportation, had a steady growth. 
Wlieii railroad commerce in a measure superseded that of 
the river, she still thrived as a railroad center. 

RED WING T?ed Wing, at the head of Lake Pepin, re- 
ceived much of the early river commerce. 
This city is Ijesides, in the center of a deposit of clay suit- 
able for bricks, tiles and cement. In the later years of the 
state's history, the manufacturing of these products has con- 
tributed largely to the growth of the city. 

SOUTHEASTERN In the midst of fertile prairies lying 
CITIES south and west of Winona were settled 

tliriving villages where now are tlie 
cities of Rochester, OAvatonna, Xew Ulm, Mankato, Albert 
Lea, and Austin. These settlements received many of the 
immigrants of 1855-'57 and, depending almost entirely tor 
their progress upon the agricultural interests of the sur- 
rounding country, have steadily grown as those interests 
thrived. 

Their founders were usually of the sturdy stock of New 
England or of the Middle Atlantic States but later immi- 
grants sometimes came directly from European states, j ar- 
ticularlv Scandinavia. 



87-- 



NEW ULM The early settlement of New Ulm was an- 
usual. A German association of Cincinnati, 
in 1854, sent out explorers to find a location for a town m 
the new west, and the}^ selected the present site of New Ulm. 
They laid out a town plat comprising a large area, and many 
members of the association arrived during 1855 and 1856. 
For a time New Ulm was governed as a community but later, 
it applied for and received a city charter. 

ATTEMPT TO An interesting incident of this period 
REMOVE was the attempt made during the Terri- 

OAPITAL torial Legislature of 1857, to remove the 

capital from St. Paul to St. Peter. The 
movement had many friends and a bill to effect the change 
passed both the House and the Council; in the latter, by a 
vote of eight to seven. It was then sent to a committee lor 
final enrollment. 

Joseph Eolette from Pembina was a member of this 
committee. He probably liad no especial interest in defeat- 
ing the measure other than a general friendliness for St. 
Paul; but, on the next day after the bill had been submitted 
to t]ie committee, Polette was absent and the bill could not 
be found. A sergeant-at-arms was unable to find tiie missing 
member and a copy of the bill was procured. The president 
of tlie council refused to sign this, though the governor did 
so. Tlie following July, the Supreme court decided that the 
law was not passed. 

Polette had been quietly hiding in an upper room of 
the Fuller House during their search and appeared imme- 
diately upon the adjournment of the session. 



-88- 



CHAPTER VII 

ORGANIZATION AS A STATE 
1858-1860 

ENABLING In 1857, our territorial delegate to Congress, 
ACT Hon. Henry M. Eice, introduced a bill to 

enable the people of Minnesota to organize 
a state and apply for admission into the Union. 

The enabling act was granted February, 1857. By this 
act, the western boundary which, under the territorial gov- 
ernment, had extended to the Missouri Eiver, was to be re- 
stricted to the line of the Eed Eiver of the North. This act 
embodied grants for public lands for common schools, a uni- 
versity, and public buildings and also a grant of about 4,- 
500,000 acres to aid in the building of railroads. 

CONSTITUTIONAL The legislature of 1857, called a 
CONVENTION Constitutional Convention to pro- 

ceed under the enabling act to pre- 
pare a constitution which must be presented to congress with 
the request for admission as a state. 

Some of the ablest men of the territory were elected to 
this convention. Among them were Wm. Holcombe (Father 
of the Xormal School System), Colonel Gorman, J. E. 
Brown, James Xorris, A. D. Balcombe, Lorenzo Babcock, and 
L. C. AValker. 

They were all men of high standing in their respective 
communities, but, unfortunately, party feeling was strong; 
and Democrats and Eepublicans met in separate bodies dur- 



ing the greater part of the session. They finally wrote a 
constitution which both parties accepted and submitted, to 
Congress in January, 1858. 

ADMISSION We remember that this was during the 

AS A STATE period when the admission of states from 
the ^orth and the South was anxiously 
balanced lest the equality between the two sections oe ais- 
turbed in the Senate. A steady opposition met the bill for 
the admission of Minnesota on that account; and it was jiot 
until May, 1858, that it was passed. 

In June, Governor Sibley was inaugurated with Wil- 
liam Holcombe as Lieutenant Governor. 

While the bill for the admission of Minnesota was still 
before Congress, the state legislature had met and elected 
Messrs. Eice and Shield as our first senators. 



Xote. Henry Eice, born in Vermont in 1816, was a 
descendant of Warren Hastings, famous in English history. 
He studied law about two years in his native state and in 
1839 came to Ft. Snelling as sutler. Later, he became an 
Indian trader in the Upper Mississippi valley in the land 
of the Chippewas. He became very familiar with the great 
area of Northern Minnesota and was well known among 
the Indians. He was of great assistance to the governin-^nt 
in procuring the Indian treaties of 1851. 

Subsequent^, he removed to St. Paul and was there 
identified closely with all plans for the development of the 
city and the territory. 

In 1853 and again in 1855, he was our delegate to 
Congress and worked faithfully for the establishment of 
post-roads, postoffices, land offices, and other means of de- 
velopment . 

In 1857, Mr. Eice was elected as one of our first sena- 
tors. 

\ —90-- 



Xote 2. James Shields, one of our first senators, led 
a most eventful life. He was born in Ireland, 1806, of a 
family notable in Irish history. 

When sixteen, he left Ireland expecting to make his 
home with an uncle in America; but he sufl'ered shipwTeck 
off the coast of Scotland, being one of onl}^ three survivors. 
Not daunted, he started the second time, and reached the 
continent only to find that his uncle had died. He became 
a sailor, but during an accident was badly injured, and was 
brought to a hospital in Xew York where he was obliged to 
remain three months. Both his legs had been broken, but, 
directly on his recovery, we find him among the volunteers 
for the Seminole war. 

At the close of this war, he settled in Illinois. Here, 
while serving as a schoolmaster, he studied law and was lat- 
er elected to the state legislature where he served four years. 
He was an associate of Lincoln and Douglas, and became an 
intimate friend of the former though Lincoln often told the 
story of an early quarrel between them when they threatened 
to fight a duel. 

When the war with Mexico opened, Shields entered as 
a brigadier general. He won distinction at Vera Cruz, at 
Cerro^ Gordo and at Chapultepec, where he commanded some 
South Carolina troops; and he was the first to carry the 
Stars and Stripes into the ancient castle of the Montezumas. 
For his courage, he was made major general ; and was pre- 
sented with two beautiful swords, one by Illinois valued at 
tliree thousand dollars and the other by South Carolina val- 
ued at five thousand dollars. 

In 1849, he was elected senator from Illinois and served 
six years. In that congress, having an unusual number of 
notable members, he was counted an important personage. 

Mexican soldiers were given land grants by the govern- 
ment and in 1855, General Shields came to Minnesota to 
locate a claim and became one of the founders of Fari- 
bault. 

He was then about fifty years of age, five feet and nine 

—91— 



inches tall, graceful, dignified and of distinguished bearing, 
a good statesman and a fine orator. No wonder that he 
found many read}^ admirers. 

General Shields fought also in the Civil War bringing 
upon Jackson at Winchester, his first and only defeat. After 
the Civil War, he made his home in Missouri, from which 
state he was also elected United States Senator. His resi- 
dence in Minnesota was not of long duration and he was 
rather a citizen of all United States than of any .one state 
but in the "Hall of Fame'^ in Washington, Minnesota is rep- 
resented by General Shields. 



% 
STATE SEAL As every state must have an official seal 
for its papers and documents, one must 
be designed for the new state, Minnesota. At the request 
of Hon. Chas. F. Lowe, a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention, a beautiful design was prepared by Mr. Buechner 
of St. Paul. When it was formally presented to the legis- 
lature for adoption, it was considered an admirable and ap- 
propriate emblem, and was sent to the Governor who returned 
it with his signature of approval in July 1858. 

It was an unpleasant surprise to these members, when 
several months later the new seal was first used, to see, not 
the one adopted, but one credited to Piev. E. D. Xeill. This 
was devised from the old territorial seal and presents an idea 
of progress. In the foreground is the farmer turning the , 
virgin soil witli his plow, while his gun and powder horn 
lie within reach ; speeding from him toward the west is 
the native savage ; and St. Anthony Falls can be discerned 
in the distance. The motto "L Etoile Du Xord" (the North 
Star) is above the picture; the whole design is encircled with 
the Avords "The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota f and 
underneath is 1858, the date of its admission. Although 
not formally adopted by the state legislature, this seal nas 
continued in use, and in 1907 a new die of the same design 
was made to replace the much worn first one. 

—92— 



NEED OF With the settlement of claims dis- 

MEANS FOR tant from the great rivers of the 

TRANSPORTATION state, there arose again necessity for 

better means of land transportation. 

Farmers in Olmsted, Dodge, and Mower counties car- 
ried their wheat and other products to the nearest Missis- 
sippi Eiver port, usually Red Wing, Lake City, or Winona, 
a distance sometimes of sixty miles. 

Most of this hauling was in the late fall sometimes with 
ox-teams. The men had less comfortable foot-wear tnan 
now, usually heavy cowhide boots, and no overcoats. Their 
routes lay over poor roads and almost insurmountable hills, 
across unbridged rivers and all but impassable sloughs. Us- 
ually several neighl)ors undertook the journey together in or- 
der that they might asvsist one another in times of difficulty. 
Undoubtedly, they made the trip as jolly as they could l)ut we 
can see that with such difficulties of transportation, a crop 
of forty bushels of wheat to the acre was not an unmixed 
blessing, while the price received for it was only about thir- 
ty-five cents a ])ushe]. 

AID FOR Under the provision of state aid for 

STATE railroads in the enabling act, four com- 

RAILROADS panics were organized; their routes were 
planned : and thev were promised each one 
hundred twenty sections of the allotted lands upon the com- 
pletion of each twenty miles of road. It was supposed that 
the companies could raise money upon this promise of aid 
but the plan did not succeed. They asked the legislature 
of 1857-8 for further aid. A section of the constitution tnen 
awaiting the approval of Congress, forbade the loan of the 
credit of the state in aid of any individual or corporation 
but the people clamored for the railroad ; and the legisla- 
ture finally submitted to the electors an amendment \ "^o- 
viding an exception to this rule and allowing a loan of the 
state's credit for the purpose of aiding railroad construc- 
tion, to the amount of five million dollars. The amendment 

—93— 



passed with a large majority and, in accordance with it, 
special Minnesota state railroad bonds were issued and an 
arrangement was made by which a road should receive one 
hundred thousand dollars of these state bonds upon the 
grading of a ten mile stretch and one hundred thousand dol- 
lars more in bonds when the road was completed with cars 
I'uiming. The railroads were to pay interest on the money 
thus loaned and were to secure the state by giving mort- 
gages on their property. However, a sufficient amount of 
grading was done to entitle the companies to receive over 
$2,000,000 in bonds; although not a mile of road, was ready 
for traffic. The state saw that this plan of road-building 
was an absolute failure, and work on the roads was aban- 
doned for the time. The whole country was suffering from 
the great financial panic of 1857 and Minnesota was deeply 
involved. 

NEED OF People generally felt tiiat the first legislature 
REFORM had been very extravagant. 

Upon Gen. Sibley's retirement as Governor, he 
is quoted as saying: "The embarrassed condition of the state 
finances and impoverished situation of the people impeia- 
tively demand retrenchment in expenditures.'' 

The state then had afloat $184,000 in scrip and $250,- 
000 in state bonds, but had actual cash to the amount of six 
cents in the treasury. Taxes were delinquent and could not 
be collected. 

•^\s the end of their labors drew nigh, in dog-days, it 
became known that there would be a residue of some ten 
thousand dollars of money appropriated by Congress for ter- 
ritorial expenses. It seemed a pity not to keep that money 
in Minnesota. After a variety of proposals consuming much 
time had failed to receive concurrence, the two houses agreed 
to a compromise by which six thousand dollars was appro- 
priated for stationery and three thousand, five hundred dol- 
lars for postage, the members to share equally." (Folwell's 
History of Minnesota.) 

Thus to their lasting discredit, these legislators allowed 

- 94— 



pcr^^tmal greed to overcome good statesmanship. 
SECOND It was with a keen sense of the need of 

LEGISLATURE reform in state administration that the 
voters chose an almost entirely new stafi 
of state officers for the next term. 

Alexander Eamsey became governor; and among the 
legislators are names that since became prominent in our 
state history; John Sandborn, Gen. Wilkinson and Igna- 
tius Donnelly. 

Governor Eamsey was so determined upon retrenchment 
that he cut his own salary from two thousand five hundred 
dollars to one thousand five hundred dollars. 

This legislature enacted many laws tending toward re- 
forms which were immediately beneficial, and have been val- 
uable as precedents. 

There w^ere stringent provisions for the collection of all 
taxes, a practical road law, a law regulating the business of 
insurance companies, and another for the organization of 
companies for the smelting and manufacture of iron, cop- 
])er and other minerals. To encourage these latter indus- 
tries, then not well estal)lished, no taxes should be levied 
on their out-put. The interest rate on contracts between in- 
dividuals was lowered to 12 per cent. 

In I860, the constitution was again amended by ex- 
j)unging from it that clause which allowed the state to is- 
sue state railroad bonds to aid the building of roads. At 
the same time, another amendment was passed which for- 
bade tlie payment of such bonds or their interest until the 
])eopIe by vote signified their desire that this should be 
done. 

This virtually repudiated the state railroad bonds and, 
even though the purpose for which the bonds were issued 
iiad failed and proved to be lacking in business forethought, 
still their repudiation placed the state in a questionable 
position. Finally, in 1881, under Governor Pillsbury, a 
way was found to settle tliis old difficulty; the bonds were 
redeemed and the credit of the state was preserved. 

— 95 — 



CHAPTER VIII 

CIVIL WAR, 1 860-65 

SECESSION Lincoln was elected president in November 
1860. The Southern states having already 
lost equality in the senate through the admission of Min- 
nesota, California, and Oregon, felt that, in his election^ 
they saw the death blow to slavery if they remained in the 
Union. They resolved to secede. 

Before Lincoln's inauguration, «even states. South 
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi- 
ana, and Texas passed acts of secession. 

The seriousness of this action was scarcely comprehend- 
ed in the Xorth, until on the 14th of April, 1861, the Con- 
federates fired upon Ft. Sumpter, a Federal fort off Charles- 
ton harbor. 

FIRST Consternation was everywhere. When the 

REGIMENT news of this bombardment reached Wash- 
RESPONDS ington. Governor Eamsey was in that city. 
He immediately visited the capitol and of- 
fered the president the services of Minnesota. Lincoln ac- 
cepted the offer and Gov. Ramsey telegraphed Lieu. Gov. 
Ignatius Donnelly to call for volunteers. The response was 
immediate. More men than the call had asked were eager 
to enlist, and by April 27, the ten companies of the First 
Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers were mustered in at Ft. 
Snelling. Willis Gorman was appointed their Colonel. 

—96— 



Their time was spent in drill until June 22, when, after 
a short ceremony closing with a prayer and the Hebrew 
benediction: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The 
Lord make his lace to shine upon you. The Lord lift up 
iiis countena^iice upon you and give you peace," pronounced 
l)y Re\. Edward Niell, they embarked for Prairie du Chieit 
from thence to take their place in the battle lines of the 
Army of the l*otomac. 

MINNESOTA The great struggle which now com- 
VOLUNTEERS menced, called for sacrifice from every 
corner of the Union and no state gave 
more liberally nor courageously than Minnesota. 

With our comparatively scant population of 170,000 
in 1860, we mustered eleven full regiments of infantry be- 
sides other organizations of cavalr}^^ sharp-shooters, heavy 
and light artillery. In all, 22,970 men were sent forth. 

We cannot trace here the history of each regiment. 
Only Olio, the Third, surrendered. The story of all the 
others is the story of steadfast, cheerful courage and lion- 
orable discharge of duty. 

No story of ^linnesota would be complete, however, 
without an account of a few instances of exceptional hero- 
ism. 

FIRST, AT IMic First Minnesota wlvich liad already 

GETTYSBURG won an enviable record, gained greatest 
renown at the battle of Gettysburg. 
On the morning of July 2nd, 1863, the second cor])s 
of wliicli the 1st Minnesota was a part and the 3rd corps 
under command of Gen. Sickle were stationed at the left 
of the cemetery famous on that battlefield and at the gate- 
way of the Xorthern position. About noon. Gen. Sickle 
ii(lvanced about half a mile to the front near the base of 
Little Tiound Top. Here he was attacked by the heavy forces 
of Longstreet and Hill and, after a gallant figiit, was forced 
to give way and retreat. This retreat began in order; but 

— 9T— 



before they reached a positiou in the rear of the 1st, the 
troop was in disorder and panic. On came the victorious 
division in glad pursuit. It seemed for a time that our 
regiment, standing between them and their prey, was about 
to be overwhelmed, and its important position occupied by 
the enemy. 

''What regiment is this?" asked Gen. Hancock, com- 
mander of the division as he rode up at full speed. 

''First Minnesota," replied Col. Colville. 

"Charge those lines," was the command. 

The need was urgent, lieserves were coming forward 
on the run, but the enemy must be held back until they 
could reach the position. 

Every one of this little band of two hundred sixty-i wo 
men knew that the charge ordered meant the probable sacri- 
fice of the regiment and death or wounds for all, but there 
Avas no liesitation. In perfect line they swept clown the 
slope in face of a fearful storm of lead from tlie whole Con- 
federate front, straight for the center of the opposing band. 
With leveled ,l)ayonets, they rushed upon it and held it at 
l)ay while the reserves came up and occupied the endangered 
position in the rear. 

Lieu. Wm. Lochren in his story of the First Regiment 
comments on the charge thus : ''What Hancock had giveu 
lis to do was done thoroughly. The regiment had stopped 
the enemy and held back its mighty force and saved Hie 
position. But at what a sacrifice! Xearly every officer was 
dead or lay weltering with l)loody wounds, our gallant col- 
onel and every field officer among them. Of the 26'3 men 
who made the cliarge, 215 lay upon the field, 47 were still 
in line, and not a man was missing. The annals of war 
<-ontain no parallel to this charge. In its dcvsperate valor, 
<:omplete execution, successful result, and in its sacrifice 
of men in proportion to the number engaged, authentic liis- 
tory has no record with which it can be compared." 

Can we wonder that while many a frontier home was 
desolated by this terrible sacrifice which war had made nec- 

-98— 



cssary, every true Miimesotan thrills with pride at the name 
of this gallant regiment. 

Another encounter of which Minnesota is justly j^roucl 
occurred on the field of Chickamauo^a. 



'&' 



SECOND The Second regiment left Fort Snelling 

REGIMENT Octoher 14, 1861, and was assicrned to the 
AT CHICKA army of the Middle West. They took a 
MAUGA considerable part in the actions at Shiloh, 

Corinth, and Perryville. On September 
ll)-20, lrS63, was fought the stubborn battle of Chickamauga. 
Both sides fiercely contested the field during the 19th; en 
the 2()th, Tiosecrans, with the right and center divisions 
l)rokcn and in great confusion, retreated from the field. 
Tiiomas. the Rock of Chickamauga, to cover this retreat 
and save the retiring army from terrible disaster, threw 
liis division, the left, across a. ridge called Snodgrass, thus 
intercepting the pursuit of the victorious Southern division. 
From early afternoon until evening he held that ridge, meet- 
ing onslanghF after onslaught of the enemy but yielding 
not at all. 

At tlie front of Tliomas' division was placed the Sec- 
ond ]\[innesota and, inspired no doubt by their unflinchinst 
leader, tliey held their post through the long, hot afternoon 
with tliroats parched Avith thirst, forcing l)ack rank after 
rank of tlie enemy until the slope before them was covered 
so thickly with dead and wounded that they could scarcely 
see the ground. Gen. Thomas, appreciating the difl'iculty 
(•f the position, sent an aide to their commanding officer. 
Colonel George, asking how long they could hold on. 

■^'Till we are mustered out of service, sir," answered 
tlie Colonel, voicing the grim determination of his men. 

When twilight finally stole over the dreadful field, 
Thomas' detachment moved back to Eossville and finally 
rejoined Eosecrans at Chattanooga. 

Tlie brigade commander said in his official report of 

—99— 



the battle: ''It is a noticeable fact that the Second Min- 
nesota regiment had not a single man among the missing 
nor a straggler during the two days' engagement/' 

FOURTH The Fourth regiment was mustered in, in the 
AND fall of 1861, with John Sandborn as colonel, 

FIFTH but several of the companies were occupied 

among the Sioux until the following summer. 
They were then sent to Corinth, Missouri, where they w^re 
met by the Fifth Regiment. 

In Oct. 1862, Price and Van Dorn made a stubborn 
fight to drive Eosecrans from Corinth and succeeded m 
breaking through our lines. Col. Hubbard, in command ot 
the Fifth Minnesota, threw his regiment upon the invading 
force and drove them back. 

Eosecrans wrote of this encounter : "Veterans coulc 
hardly have acted more opportunely and effectively than did 
tlie ofallant Fifth Minnesota on that occasion." 

The members of the regiment were proud to recall the 
gallant behavior of their young chaplain who won special 
distinction on that field. His name was John Ireland, now 
Archbishop of St. Paul. 

We all remember the fearful battle of Xashville fought 
during the last year of the war, when an entire Southern 
army was not merely defeated, but was absolutely destroyed 
as an arm v. Four Minnesota regiments, the Fifth, Seventh, 
Ninth and Tenth, were in this battle and were all in tlie 
Second and Third Brigades when they made their final 
great charge against the Confederate left, putting it to 
rout and ending the battle. 

Thus the regiments sent out by Minnesota, composed of 
frontiersmen inured to hardship, accustomed to out floor 
life, resourceful in emergency, and steadfast in danger, won 
grateful recognition among the troops of the Union. 

The women left at home did their part. Only one who 
went throu.s^h that period, can appreciate the anxiety, priva- 
tion, and sacrifice of the time. 

—100— 



A\'hen, in September, 1865, the Minnesota troops were 
mustered out and returned home; 2,587 of our boys were 
left on the Southern fields. 

The uprising of the Sioux Indians in 1862, added its 
horror to that of the Civil War, 



IGNATIUS DONNELLY. 

Note 1. Ignatius Donnelly, often called ^'The Sage 
of Xininger," was one of the most able politicians, profound 
thinkers, fluent speakers, and finished writers which the 
State has produced. 

Born in Philadelphia, November 3, 1831, he there 
studied law and was admitted to the bar. He removed to 
^Minnesota in 1857 and settled on a farm at Nininger, a 
few miles west of Hastings. He was twice elected Lieuten- 
ant Governor, was sent as a representative to Congress, and 
later served in the state legislature. Those who ridiculed 
liis advanced views of popular education and the preservation 
of timbered lands lived to see their practical import. 

He was foremost in the Farmer's Alliance movement 
and a leader in the Populist Party. He set forth his views 
in the Anti-Monopolist -which he edited for several years. 

Among his ablest works are Atlantis Ragnarok, The 
Great Cryptogram, and his published addresses. His later 
years were spent in farming and literature. He died in 
^Minneapolis, January 1, 1901. 

JOHN IRELAND 

Note 2. John Ireland, Roman Catholic Archbishop of 
St. Paul, was born in Burnchurch, Kilkenny County, Ire- 
land, September 11, 1838. With his parents he came to 
the United States, settling i n Chicago i n 1849, 
where they remained three years, then coming to the village 
of St. Paul. When he was fifteen years of age, he went to 
France, where he studied for eight years, and upon return- 
ing to St. Paul was ordained a priest. He was consecrated 

—10] — 



bishop in 1875, and Archbishop in 1888. 

Arc-hbishop Ireland, besides being a beloved leader in 
the Catholic church, is a man of. national reputation, and 
world wide influence. It has been fittingly said: "No other 
American churchman has so combined the devotion of the 
parish priest and the wisdom of the Statesman.'' 

He served as Chaplain of the Fifth Minnesota Eegiment 
during a part of the Civil War, organized the first Total 
Abstinence Society in 1869, was president of the St. Paul 
Law and Order League, National Chaplain of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, president of the State Historical So- 
ciety. He was a factor in advocating a settlement with 
Spain in 1898, and in the adjustment of the trouble in the 
Philippines. 

His style and eloquence give him popular place among 
the orators of the day while his books, ''The Church and 
Modern Society/' and ''Lectures and Addresses'' show liis 
ability as an author. 

REV. EDWARD NEILL 

Xote 3. A leader most heartily beloved and respected by 
the early settlers of Minnesota was Rev. Edward Neill. He 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1823 and came to St. Paul in 
1849. Here he erected the first Protestant church of Minne- 
sota. In 1855, he organized the "House of Hope,"' a Pres- 
byterian church of St. Paul. 

Mr. Neill served as the first State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction and was also secretary of the State His- 
torical Association for several years. 

When the First Minnesota went South, he went also 
and served as their chaplain for two years when he became 
U. S. Hospital Chaplain. 

In 1864, he became oue of President Lincoln's pri- 
vate secretaries and later served in the same capacity for 
President Johnson. 

He was sent to Dublin as cousul in 1869 and remained 

—102— 



about two years, at the end of wliich time, he returned to 
Minnesota. 

Rev. Edward x«^eill was one of the founders of Macal- 
ester College and has written several books, among them a 
Historv of Minnesota. 



—103— 



CHAPTER IX 

INDIAN OUTBREAK, 1 862 

INKPADOOTA Inl-padoota (Scarlet End,) was a native 
of the Cannon River country, and a 
member of the Wahpakoota band nntil the murder of its 
chief. Tab sab gee. Inkpadoota was suspected as the mur- 
derer and he and his friends were compelled to flee from the 
enraged tribe. They sought refuge with Black Eagle's band 
in the Blue Earth region, until they escaped to Northern 
Iowa, where they committed the blackest crimes and lived 
])y plunder of their victims. 

MASSACRE lu March 1857, Morris Markham, a settler 
OF SPIRIT at Spirit Lake, Iowa, returned to his home, 
LAKE after an absence of a few days, to find all 

the inhabitants of Spirit Lake and Okoboji 
murdered by Inkpadoota's' renegades. Markham warned the 
settlers at Springfield (Jackson) in Southwestern Minne- 
sota. This small village, having only fifteen able-bodied 
men, feared a similar fate. They gathered in two houses 
for protection while awaiting aid from Ft. Eidgely. 

ATTACK ON Inkpadoota with only a small band fell 
SPRINGFIELD upon Springfield, March 26th, and killed 
several people; the remainder of the col- 
ony fled to Iowa towns. Two messengers made a trip 
througli tlie deep snow to Agent Flaudreau at the Lower 
Agency. Officers Capt. Bernard Bee and Lieutenant Alex- 

—104— 



juider Murry with forty-eight men in sleighs drawn by 
11111 les. were sent to aid the western settlement, but it was 
found deserted. Inkpadoota's villains had fled to Dakota. 

SIOUX SEEK In June, 1857, the annuities of the Sioux 
INKPADOOTA were withheld by the Commissioner of 
Indian affairs until they sliould kill or 
capture Inkpadoota's liand. With no sympathy for the out- 
laws: tint a knowledge of their own innocence, the Sioux 
tril)e felt this to lie an unjust trick, prompted by the fear 
felt ])y the whites, of this small Indian band. 

Little Crow, a friend of the settlers, led one hundred 
Sioux in i)ursuit of the offenders*. He caught jmrt of the 
band, and returned two women prisoners; but the agent de- 
manded tlie destruction of the entire band before any money 
shoukl be paid the Dakotas. Fortunately, through a tem- 
jiorary change in tlie Indian Commissioner, this decree was 
rc^voked and the annuities paid to the tribe. 

Tliis episode may have been one of the first causes of 
the Minnesota massacre which followed, although Inkpadoota 
fled fartlier west and did not return to Minnesota during 
the Indian war. As late as 1876, he lived in eastern Mon- 
tana but later fled tn Manitoba where he died. 



LOCATION When the Civil War began, and Minnesota 
OF TRIBES was offering her strongest and best men to 
serve in the regular army, the Indians of 
the state were located on their several revservations. The 
Chippewas occupied the northern lake region; a tribe of 
Winnebagoes were in Blue Earth County; while. the Sioux 
were consigned to a long, narrow strip of territory along the 
I^pper Minnesota River. West of Lake Traverse, in what 
i< now Xortli Dakota, were over four thousand Sissetons 
jiiid Walipetons. 



— 105- 



CONDITION 111 1857, Joseph E. Brown was made agent 
OF THE of the Dakota tribe. Brown, a man of good 

TRIBES reputation, had lived among the Sioux tor 

fort}^ years, securing their confidence and 
friendship. His influence brought about many reforms in their 
dress and manner of living. Many had discarded the blan- 
ket for the white man's dress; and frame houses, supplied 
with chairs, beds and stoves, were slowly taking the places 
of the Indian tepees. 

Doctors and missionaries aided in Indian reforms; 
while the government supplied the ^'Farmer Indian" with 
oxen, wagons and machinery. Many of the bands were self- 
supporting when, in 1861, Thos. J. Galbraith of Shakopee 
became Sioux asfent. 



'&^ 



CAUSES OF The Sioux were not reconciled to the 

THE INDIAN treaties of 1851 and '58 which compelled 
WAR them to settle on reserves after they had 

forfeited large tracts of land for a small 
sum. The Indians obtained goods from the traders on credit. 
Payment for these just or unjust debts was collected by the 
traders when the government paid the Indian annuities. 
The rascality of some of these men and the presence of 
soldiers to keep order during the ' yearly payment, aroused 
a feeling among the Indians, that they were being cheated 
of their money. These suspicions gave rise to an unfriend- 
ly feeling toward the government and the white settlers. 

In 1861, crops had been poor; the following winter was 
a severe one and many of the Indians were suffering fiom 
want of food and clothing. Agent Galbraith did what he 
could to relieve them, but his sources of supply were lim- 
ited. Flour and pork were provided; but this did not last 
long. Fifteen hundred Wahpetons and Sissetons, who were 
destitute, having eaten all their horses and dogs, were fed 
from the agency from December 1861, to April 1862. The 
^^Farmer Indians'^ worked during the winter cutting and 
liauling fence rails and logs, and for this received suppjie;?^ 

—106— 



from the agency; but the band sorely needed the money due 
them in 1862^ so that when the payment which was ex- 
pected in June, was delayed by the authorities at Wasinng- 
ton until the following August, the turbulent feeling exist- 
ing among them was increased. 

FIRST Unwise traders had teased the Indians by 

ACT OP telling them that their money had been 

HOSTILITY spent, and there were to be no more yearly 
payments. This increased their hatred and 
distrust, so that Agent Galbraith found it hard to keep peace 
with them. Presents of tobacco and provisions served to 
quiet them but for a time. 

At Yellow Medicine, the upper agency, a band of Sioux, 
who were assembled to wait for their money and received 
only jn'omises, became fiercely savage and with wild whoops 
dashed through the warehouse door, carrying away flour and 
provisions. 

MURDER August 17, four Indians from Eice Creek 

AT ACTON were in Meeker County hunting. One of 
the party took some eggs from a hen's nest, 
found in a fence corner in the village of Acton and one 
of his companions who asked him to return them as they 
belonged to a white settler, was tauntingly accused of being 
a coward and afraid of the white man. To settle this con- 
troversy, it was agreed that they should go to the home 
of the owner and show their bravery by murdering Jiim. 
They went to this settler's house and, as a pretext, asked 
for liquor. Being refused they became violent and killed five 
of the settlers. 

Then, realizino^ the enormity of their crime, they made 
their escape on stolen horses and fled for protection to their 
own band. After a mad race of forty miles they reached 
the village and told their story. The chief and leaders de- 
cided to ask Shakopee for advice as to whether it should l)e 
left for the white man to lounish the offenders, or allow 

— 107— 



this attack to be considered as a declaration of war. Shako- 
pee said they would go to Little Crow's settlement to bold 
council. Although it was then night, the Indians at once 
departed, and reached the lower band before morning. 

Little Crow had lost much of his influence with the 
red men. hut he now saw the chance to regain his leader- 
si lij). Tlie Indians had not forgotten the failure of tlie 
wiiitcs to capture Inkpadoota, and they knew too, that when 
even our untrained men were being called to aid the govern- 
ment, the Civil War was serious. They were quick to appre- 
ciate that this was a convenient time to fall upon the unpro- 
tected settlers, and decided to begin a general massacre of 
the whites. 

ATTACK AT Early the next morning, August 18th, the 
REDWOOD the Indians proceeded to the lower agency 
at Eedwood, killed the clerk, burned hou:?- 
c>, and destroyed stores. Other Indians roamed the ad- 
joining country, torturing, killing, and often terribly mu- 
tilating tlie bodies of the unsuspecting settlers, who in ter- 
ror, vainly tried to escape the savage demons. To those 
who liad befriended them in times of peace, the savages 
showed no mercy. They suffered the common fate. When 
the end of this day came, the country along the lower Min- 
nesota Eiver was in the throes of a bloody massacre. 

CAPT. MARSH Capt. Marsli was in command at Ft. 
AT REDWOOD Ridgely, which was established on the 
FERRY north bank of the Minnesota River, a 

few miles from St. Peter. As soon as 
tlie news reached the fort, Capt. Marsh with forty-eight men 
started for the lower agency, to settle the trouble; but at 
Redwood Ferr}^, the company was surrounded by Indians: 
Marsh was drowned and half of his men were killed. Those 
wlio escaped returned to the fort, better realizing the mag- 
nitude of the uprising. Re-enforcements were sought from 
P't. Suolling and Lieut. Sheehan. who had started for Ft. 

— 108— 



Ripley on the upper Mississippi Eiver, was recalled. 

FIRST AT- August lOtli, Little Crow, with a band of 
TACKS ON three hundred twenty warriors, started to 
NEW ULM take Ft. Ridgely which at this time had only 
thirty men to guard it, as the re-enforce- 
ments had not yet arrived. Little Crow was balked in this at- 
tempt however, as about two hundred of his men were so 
bent on plundering, that they left him and wandered along 
the Cottonwood River, later making an unsuccessful attack 
on Xew Ulm. 

The Indians, with increased numbers, came upon Xew 
Ulm again on Saturday, August 23rd. Judge Flaudreau led 
the white settlers in a most gallant -defense, and protected 
the inhabitants until the next day when the Indians with- 
drew. During this conflict, many buildings were burned. 
These smouldering fires, stench from the unburied bodies, 
scarcity of provisions and ammunition, and fear of the re- 
turn of the savages, caused the people to desert the town. 
A train of one hundred fifty wagons with women and chil- 
dren fled to Mankato, where they were welcomed and af- 
forded care. Settlers from the outlying districts left their 
homes, cattle and unharvested fields of grain, and went 
to the fort and the towns on the lower Minnesota River. 

FT. RIDGELY Little Crow, bent on. taking Ft. Ridgvlv, 
returned there with a force of eigi it- 
hundred Indians, who surrounded the fort ; but the heroism 
of its defenders and the successful operation of tlie cannon 
which they used, dispersed the savages. The arrival of Col. 
Sibley with re-enforcements on August 28th, brouglit a 
feeling of security to the people who- had fought against 
great odds. 

SIBLEY When on August 19th, Gov. Ramsey received 

word of the Indian trouble along the Minnesota 

River, he made Ex-Governor H. H. Sibley, then of Men- 

—109— 



dota. Colonel. Sibley was well fitted for this position; but 
he had only about fifteen hundred poorly equipped men. 

BIRCH COULIE August 31, 1862, Sibley sent a force 
of one hundred fifty with teams un- 
der Major Jos. R. Brown and Capt. H. P. Grant to the 
lower agency to ascertain the location of the Sioux, the 
condition of the country, and to bury the dead. They moved 
up the Minnesota River to a place called Birch Coulie, where 
they encamped for the night. A corral formed by horses 
and wagons was their only protection; but, seemingly un- 
mindful of the danger, all but the pickets were soon asleep. 
At this time Gray Bird, a farmer Indian, and about 
three hundred fifty savages started to plunder the deserted 
city of Xew Ulm. Arriving at Birch Coulie, Gray Bird's 
])an(l fell upon Brown's camp in the night; they killed 
nijicty horses, riddled the tents with bullets, killed twenty 
men, and left sixty wounded. 

The firing was heard at Ft. Iiidgely, whereupon Sibley 
sent out a detachment of men, which proved insufficient, 
so that lie followed with the rest of his soldiers, repulsed 
the Indians, and returned to the fort. Brown's calmness 
prevented the destruction of all his men and saved tlie 
towns of ^Mankato and St. Peter from an attack by this 
!)and. 

CAPT. STROUT Capt. Strout and seventy-five men, 
volunteers from Hennepin County, 
moved toward Hutchinson and Forest City. When they 
reached Acton, they camped for the night between two divi- 
sions of Little Crow's band, who were on a hunting expedi- 
tion in the Big Woods region. A scout from Forest City 
notified Strout that he was dangerously near the Indian 
camps, and early the next morning the militia forced its 
way through Little Crow's hand and fled to Hutchinson. 
They were chased about five miles by the Indians, who 
killed three men and stole horses, wagmis, guns, and cook- 
ing utensils. 

—no— 



These savages later made attacks on Forest City and 
Jlutchinson, burned buildings, and plundered the villages 
until they were routed by Strout's men. The settlers who 
liad gone back to their homes after the first Indian out- 
break were again panic stricken and fled to the lower set- 
tlements. Some of the people near St. Paul moved into the 
city to seek safety in numbers. 

FORT About fifteen miles north of Breckcn- 

ABERCROMBIE ridge, and west of the Red River, Ft. 
A])ercrombie was maintained to pro- 
lect the trade in tliis valley. In September the northwestern 
Indians made three unsuccessful attacks on this post, which 
was commanded ])y Capt. John Van der Ilorck. 

BATTLE OF Sibley, after failing to elfect a peacca')le 

WOOD LAKE settlement with Little Crow, decided to 
assemble his forces, now strengthened by 
]\laj. Wclcli and the Third Minnesota Infantry, and advance 
into the Indian country. They left Ft. Ridgely September 
IHth, and when they arrived in the eastern part of Yellow 
?>[e(licine County, were within three miles of the Indian 
camps. 

Little Crow, confident of success, desired to make a 
night attack u])on the encamped forces, l)ut the Indian 
council decided to wait until morning hoping to destroy 
llie army. But the next day, in the battle of Wood Lake, 
Little Crow was defeated, and the disappointed warriors 
retreated to ihv'iv camps south of the Minnesota River. 

CAMP Chief Wabasha then delivered about two 

RELEASE hundred fifty white prisoners to Sibley at 

"Camp Release," nine miles below Lac qui 
Rarle. This practically ended the Indian massacre in ^Im- 
nesot^. Little Crow with one hundred twenty-five Sioux- 
left the State for Devirs Lake, I^orth Dakota. He returned 
to Minnesota again in July, 1863, and, while he and his 

— HI — 



son were picking berries near Hutchinson^ was killed by 
Xathan Lamson. His skull, scalp and arm bones are now 
in the possession of the Historical Society. 

TRIALS AND Sibley, knowing that our prisoners 

PUNISHMENT were safe, began inquiring to ascer- 

OF THE SIOUX tain what members of the tribe had 
participated in the worst outrages and 
crimes of this recent massacre. A military -com- 
mission of five officers was appointed to try the 
savages. This court sat part of the time at "Camp Eelease/'' 
Lower Agency, and Mankato. Although this was a time of 
intense excitement and strong feeling, the procedure of 
this body was just and dignified, and the judgments given 
were upon reliable evidence. There were four hundred twen- 
ty-five prisoners tried, three hundred twenty-one found 
guilty of crimes, three hundred three sentenced to death 
and eighteen to imprisonment. 

The coudemned Indians were taken to Mankato where 
they were placed in a log guard house surrounded by sol- 
diers. 



Note. Flandrau tells us that as the prisoners were 
taken through New Ulm, where the inhabitants were mov- 
ing the bodies of their dead to regular burial places, the 
sight of these warriors, although chained in wagons, so in- 
furiated the whites that the prisoners were assaulted vvitli 
knives, stones, and hot water; oue was killed and scNcral 
others severely ])ruised. 



President Lincoln ordered that thirty-nine Indians lie 
hanged. One was pardoned and thirty-eight were executed 
on one scaffold at Mankato, December 26, 1862. The others 
were taken to the government prisons at Rock Island, Illi- 
nois, and Davenport, Iowa, where they served four years; 
then they were liberated and sent to the Sioux reservation 
at Ft. Thompson, South Dakota. 

— 112-- 



This Minnesota massacre was one of the greatest of 
tlie Indian wars. None equalled it in the number of settlers 
killed, fiendish dei3redations, and destruction of property. 

To commemorate the bravery of the defense by the 
unprepared settlers, the state has erected monuments at Ft. 
Kidgely, New Flm, Birch Coulie, Camp Release and Acton. 



LITTLE CROW NO. 5 

Note. Tah-O-Yali-te-Doota was the son of Big Thun- 
der or Little Crow No. 4, head of the Kaposia tribe. He 
was a lazy, overbearing fellow, who by his haughty conduct 
to his half-brothers, and his had reputation,, was so dis- 
liked by his father\s tribe that he left it and made his home 
among tlie Wahpetons at Lac qui Parle. 

He reformed somewhat, and with his smooth tongue and 
wise judgment gained friends in his new home. 

In the fall of 1845 his father. Big Thunder, mortally 
wounded himself, and before his death, requested that his 
most loved son, Tah-0-Yah-te-Doota, be his successor. 

The son, upon receiving ^ notice of his father's death, 
was told tliat some .of his native tribe strongly opposed his 
father's choice, while others favored it. Notwithstanding 
this opposition, Tah-0-Yah-te-Doota prepared to return to 
Kaposia. In the spring of 1846, as soon as the Mississippi 
River was opened, he with his three wives and many Wali- 
])eton friends, traveled in their canoes as far as Shakopee's 
and Black Dog's villages. Being joined here by other sup- 
porters, they went on to Kaposia. As the canoe drew toward 
tlie shore, a large crowd of Sioux, led by the half-brothers, 
gathered to prevent their landing and threatened to shoot 
the first one who made the attempt. 

Here Tah-0-Yah-te-Doota's boldness asserted itself, 
and, folding his arms across his breast he stepped forward. 
The half brothers, exasperated by this, shot him through 
his folded arms. This act caused a revulsion of feeling 

—113— 



among the villagers, who now hailed him as their new- 
chief — Little Crow. 

The half brothers immediately fled and when they re- 
turned later, Little Crow had them bound and carried to 
the bank where they were shot. Their corpses were thrown 
into the river. 



—114- 



STATE DEVELOPMENT 



CHAPTER X 

REORGANIZATION 

DISBANDING A new era commenced in Minnesota 

OF THE ARMY with the close of the Civil War. When 
the armies of the United States dis- 
banded at the close of the great strnggle^ and men returned 
to their homes after an absence of several j-ears, they found 
in man}' cases that their positions in factory or office had 
l)een filled. So great an influx of unemployed men into 
was fortunate in having great areas of western land lying 
cities inigbt have proved di>^astrous; but the United States 
ready for the home-maker. The homestead laws of 1862 
and the soldiers' grants were liberal. Hosts caught up the 
song, "Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm," 
and again a great tide of immigration set toward the west. 
]\rinnesota received her share. 

In 1870, our population had grown to 439,000; of 
these. 117,000 were from Scandinavia, Germany, and Great 
Britain. Her cultivated area q-rew from 630.000 acres in 
im\ to 1,863,000 acres in 1870, and 3,000,00 in 1875. 

NEED OF Continuously, the demand was made for 

RAILROADS railroad facilities and, at a great cost, sev- 
eral lines were finally in working order. 
The stoi-y of early railroad building in Minnesota is credit- 

—115— 



able neither to the companies engaged nor to the state; but 
it is too intricate to follow closely here. Finally^ in 1867, 
a line was completed connecting St. Paul with Prairie du 
Chien; and, in 1870, another connected St. Paul and Du- 
luth. Thus routes to the East were opened and Minnesota, 
for the first time, could carry on uninterrupted trade with 
eastern states during both winter and summer. A result 
was felt immediately in the higher prices obtained for prod- 
uce. 

The year 1871 was remarkable for further railroad 
Imilding. The Winona and St. Peter was built and St. 
Paul was connected by the Great Northern with both Moor- 
liead and Breckenridge on the Eed River. 

In land grants, bonuses, and rights of way, these roads 
cost the public over twice as many dollars per mile of com- 
pleted road as the necessary estimated cost. 

At the end of 1872, our mileage was about nineteen 
hundred. 

SPECULATION Again, speculation in western lands, in 
town lots, and in railroad bonds was 
commou. The roads were built far out where population was 
still scant and freight was light and they had a struggle for 
existence. 

PANIC The panic of 1873, like that of 1857, created 
OF 1873 many hardships in Minnesota ; however, it 
brought us the same lesson. Patient industry 
and cultivation of the soil was the surest means to compe- 
tence. 

Two railroads became bankrupt during this 2>anic and 
during the next four years, only eighty-seven additional miles 
of railroad were built; but a few more years found them es- 
tablished on a firmer, surer foundation than before; and 
since then, their growth has been steady. Minnesota's mile- 
age now is about ten thousand extending into all sections 
of the state. Through her railroad connections, the great 

— 116— 



markets of the East and of the West are open to her trade; 
and Minnesota -rain and dairy products are known on 
both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific. 



—117- 



CHAPTER XI 

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 

EARLY EXPERT- The earliest settlers of Minnesota ex- 
MENTS IN perimented in the raising of grains. 

AGRICULTURE We have read of Col. Snelling's at- 

tempt to raise wheat for his garrison ; 
of the cultivation of little farms by the missionaries: and 
of Taliaferro's school of agriculture for Indian boys estab- 
lished on tlie shore of Lake Harriet. 

The prevalent idea in the east and south was that all 
of Minnesota, except perhaps its very southern range of 
counties, was too far north for the cultivation of corn and 
that vre must depend upon wheat and barley for our main 
crops. 

Horace Greely, editor of the Xew York Tribune, ex- 
pressed his 1)elief tliat the territory was not even self-sup- 
porting. 

EXHIBIT AT Such a report hindered our development, 
WORLD'S but Minnesota has always been fortunate 

FAIR in having among her leaders, young men 

of broad vision and great faith in tlio 
future of our connnonwealth. 

Tn ]<S53, a young man by the name of Le Due ])ro- 
posed to Governer Ramsey that tlie territory send an ex- 
liibit of her products to the great exposition to be held in 
Xew York in 1S54. 

—118— 



The governor was enthusiastic in the project and sam- 
ples of wheat, barley, and corn were procured from farm- 
ers living near Stillwater; Mr. Sibley contributed furs; and 
wild rice was obtained from the upper Mississippi. All 
made a fair exhibit of our resources. 

As Mr. Le Due was about to begin his journey, an un- 
expected contribution was made to his collection by Mr. 
("iinradie of Crow Wing. This was a young buffalo bull. 
He was a magnificent creature with glossy coat and polished 
horns; Init he was not an excellent travelling companion. 
.Air. Castle, in his history of Minnesota, gives an interesting 
account of Mr. Le Luc's experiences in transferring this 
untamed creature from the wilderness of Minnesota to the 
exhibition grounds in New York City. The buffalo aroused 
consternation all along the way. He overturned a boat on 
which he was being transported across the Mississippi ; in 
the streets of Xew York, he charged upon carriages and 
wagons; and pedestrians fled in terror.. When he reached 
file Exposition grounds, lie created such havoc that this 
])ai't of tlie ^linnesota exhibit w^as rejected. 

However, the i-emaiiuler of the display from Minne- 
sota attracted favorable attention. Horace Greeley was im- 
jM'essed by it, and in an editorial, acknowledged the error 
of his former judgment of ihe territory. 

}i was several years later before we exported any con- 
siderable amount of food stuffs. 

J. J. Hill says that as late as 1.850, when lie reached 
the territory, the region seemed to be good only for luml)er, 
cranberries, and furs. The first wheat was exported in 1857: 
and in 1859. statistics sliow that we exported four hundred 
three bales of huff'alo robes, one liundred ])ales of furs, three 
hundred forty-three bushels of cranberries, 70,218 jiounds 
of ginsing, and one hundred fourteen barrels of flour. 

WHEAT The introduction of labor saving machinery, as 
the harvester and threshing machine, encour- 
aged the cultivation of wheat; and, between 1850 and 1870, 



Soutliern Minnesota, raised great wheat crops. The soil was 
rich with fertile loam deposited through centuries, and yield- 
ed sometimes as many as forty-five bushels per acre with 
comparatively little effort on the part of the farmer. 

Little was raised besides wheat. As a natural result, 
the soil becjime exhausted until finally fifteen or twenty 
bushels was a good average yield. Meanwhile a great new 
wheat region was opened. 

RED RIVER The Red River V^alley is a long narrow val- 
VALLEY lev lying about ten to twenty miles on each 

side of the Red River of tlie North. The 
floor of this valley is a flat, open prairie having a soil of 
remarkable fertility. During the glacial period, this great 
plain was covered by a lake called by scientists. 
Lake, Agassiz, which gradually drained away to the 
Hudson Bay. 

The first wheat grown and harvested in the Red River 
Valley was probably by the Selkirk colonists in their settle- 
ment near Pembina, as early as 1830. George Lamphere 
describes their methods of cultivation in an address before 
the Historical Society in 1900 : "The methods of cultiva- 
tion in the Selkirk settlement were rude and primitive. 
Their plow was English or Scotch, made all of iron from 
the tip of the beam to the end of the handles, and was ten 
.or twelve feet long. Its share was shaped like a mason's 
trowel. With this drawn bv one horse, enough ground was 
scratched every spring to raise sufl^icient wheat to feed all the 
blackbirds and pigeons in the Red River valley, and leave 
a surplus large enough to meet the wants of the people of 
the settlement; also to sell to the Hudson Bay Company all 
they needed for their outposts in the British Northwest pos- 
sessions, and still leave a surplus sufficient for food and 
seed for two years, which was stored up to be used in case 
of emergency or failure of crop in the coming seasons. The 
grain was cut with sickles, the bundles tied with willow 
withes and stacked in the barnyard, to be flailed out dur- 

-120— 



j]ig tlie winter and cleaned by the winds, men and women 
and children all giving a helping hand in this \vork/' 

For many years, these thrifty peo^^le were, except for 
a few fur-traders, the only Avhite inhabitants of this great 
valley, and until the ratification of the Pembina treaty in 
1864 and the building of railroads into the region, settlers 
were few. 

PEMBINA In 1851, Governor Ramsey made a treaty with 
TREATY the Chippewa Indians for the land along the 
lied l\iver of the North; but as it was not 
ratified by the senate, it did not go into effect. In Oc- 
tober, I860, about twelve miles east of Crookston, Alexan- 
der Kamsey, and A. C. Morrill made a second treaty with 
the chiefs of the Red Lake and Pembina bands of the Chip- 
pewa tribe. 

At this time the government secured about eleven mil- 
lion acres of land in the Red River valley on both the Da- 
kota and Minnesota sides of the river. This treaty was con- 
firmed in 1864 by President Lincoln. 



rTh7> 



RAILROADS | The Xorthern Pacific was built from Du- 
luth to Moorhead and Fargo between 1870 
and 1872 and the next year to Bismarck. The Great l^ortli- 
(^rn, then the St. Paul and Pacific, was next built to Breck- 
en ridge and to Crookston. The land thus opened up was 
rapidly taken by settlers and the years between 1875 and 
1885 are noted for their great immigration into this valley of 
promise. !Many of the settlers were from southeastern Minne- 
sota an? others were from neighboring states, while still more 
were immigrants coming directly from Europe. Trains of 
"^prairie schooners" crossed Minnesota carrying the home- 
steader, his family, and all his goods. Within a few 3^ears. 
hundreds of sod shanties dotted the prairie; thriving vil- 
lages were built; and, as is usual on our frontier, schools 
and churches were established. 

— 121— 



BONANZA The homestead kw attempted to limit the 
FARMS land grants to actual settlers or homeseekers 

but sometimes, when these settlers became dis- 
couraged, they sold their titles to others more fortunate. 
These men bought railroad land grants also and in time ac- 
cumulated tlie rights to extensive tracts of land and es- 
tablished great farms called "bonanza"' farms. These con- 
tained several thousand acres and employed nuiny men. 

DALYRYMPLE The pioneer of "bonanza'' farmers in 
Minnesota was Oliver Dalyrymple. In 
1875, he became convinced that this Eed Eiver Valley might 
become a great wheat region and made tests of the soil to 
prove his theory. Then he made a contract with certain 
holders of Xorthern Pacific land grants to cultivate their 
land and return to them a certain per cent of the profits. 
lie was very successful and, convinced of the value of the 
land for wheat raising, more settlers swarmed into the val- 
ley and planted thousands of acres to wheat. 

In one year, 1,500,000 acres were taken as homesteads 
and in ten years, nearly all available land in tlie vallev had 
been granted. The annual wheat crop in this valley is now 
about 50,000,000 bushels, while tlie entire output of the 
state for 1915 was 73,900,000. Xo wonder that this i.^ called 
the 1)read ])asket of the States. 

GRASS- This remarkable progress was not without its 

HOPPERS seasons of discoui-agement. An exploi-ci' of 
the Red Eiver A^alley in 1850 tells of en- 
countering a cloud of grasshoppers that ate the. seat of iiis 
saddle and the to]') of his boots. The year of 1873 was gen- 
erally unfortunate. In the spring of that year, swarms of 
Eocky Mountain locusts, called grasshoppers, settled over 
the western and southwestern counties and destroyed the 
crops so completely that the state legislature appropriated 
funds to relieve the distress caused by the crop failure and 
to provide seed. Every one supposed that the plague coald 



not survive another season, but in 1875, the "hoppers" ap- 
peared in increased numbers having been hatched from eggs 
deposited in the ground the previous year. 

Fields of gram nearl^y ready for harvest were so dev- 
astated by them in a few hours that not a spear was left 
standing. Twenty million dollars would scarcely cover the 
loss. The people were desperate; aid was again granted the 
afflicted districts; great sums were paid in bounties for dead 
lioppers; a day of prayer was appointed by Governor Pills- 
bury and was observed by all denominations. The Gov- 
ernor says, "The day following, it turned cold and froze 
every grasshopper in the state; froze 'em right up solid, sir; 
well, sir, that was over twenty years ago and grasshoppers 
don't appear to have been bothering us much since.'' 

The State School of Agriculture has been active in dis- 
tributing widely the results of their research work in rid- 
ding the country of these and other similar pests. 

GREAT In 1873, there also occurred a snow storm 

BLIZZARD long known to the pioneer as the "(ireat 
Blizzard." It was early in January of that 
year and lasted for three days. The forenoon of the first 
day had been unusually mild and many had left their liomes 
for the near by villao-e or wood-lot Avhen the storm sudden- 
ly overtook them. The air was dense with snow. This con- 
dition accompmied by a high wind, blinded and exhausted 
the traveller. Men were unable to make their way even from 
tlie barn to the hoitse ; in some of the cabins, the chimneys 
l>ecanu^ choked with snow making a fire impossible : a])out 
seventy persons lost their lives. 

CROOKSTON Among the cities of the Eed Eiver Valley 
today are Crookston and Fergus Falls. 
Crookston, situated on Eed Lake Eiver, is the county 
seat of Polk County. Being in the heart of this rich farm- 
ing district, it has attained a population of about ten thou- 
sand people. It is the site of an agricultural school and a 

—123- 



state experimental farm. The different industries are well 
represented ; but it ships principally wheat, potatoes and lum- 
ber. 

PERGUS FALLS Fergus Falls, a city of eight thousand 
people, is the County seat of Ottertail 
County, and was established in 1872. Among early pio- 
neers, were E. E. Corlies, Jacob i\.ustin, James Compton, 
Moses E. Clapp, L. L. Baxter, and Elmer E. Adams. 

The Ottertail Power Company has developed the wa- 
ter power of the Otter Tail Eiver which generates electricity 
and furnishes power and light for Wahpeton and Hankin- 
son in N^orth Dakota, and the Minnesota towns of Morris, 
Whe-iton, Hancock, and Graceville. 

Fergus Falls has three flour mills, woolen mills, bas- 
ket factory and foundry. 

CORN Even the most fertile soil will, in time, become 
impoverished by the continual culture of cne 
crop: and in southern Minnesota, as the wheat yield de- 
creased, the farmer saw the necessity of crop rotation and 
of stock-raising. He experimented in raising corn. Tried 
at first in the southern counties, its cultivation gradually ex- 
tended until now it is a standard crop in all parts of the 
state. 

This result has been accomplished largely through the 
efforts of the agricultural college with its instructions af- 
fecting seed selection and in its corn raising contests. These 
contests, participated in By boys of all sections of the state, 
have resulted in a yield of corn per acre which has aston- 
ished the experienced farmer and shown the possibilities of 
the state in this line. 

In 1913, we produced ninety-six million bushels of 
corn valued at $50,880,000. This was our greatest yield 
hut even in the less bountiful season of 1915, the crop was 
62.933,000 bushels. 

Other grains as oats, barley, and rye also yield plenti- 

—124— 



fully, and the value of tlie hav crop alone in 1915, was 
$20,664,000 . 

FRUIT When our grandfathers came to Minnesota^ 

RAISING they found an abundance of cranberries in 
the swamps, particularly in the middle sec- 
tion of the state ; in the south, wild strawberries grew" in 
abundance and there were blackberries and raspberries. Sev- 
eral varieties of delicious wild plums were also found. Even 
the wild crab apple was so prepared for the table that it 
found favor; though, to the pioneer from Ohio or sur- 
rounding states, it must have seemed a poor substitute for 
the fruit of the old orchards he had known. For many years, 
it was believed impossible for Minnesota to raise winter ap- 
ples, but in no other field, has she made greater progress 
in the last twenty-five years. 

At the state fair held in Eochester, 1866, the entire 
exhibit of apples was from three orchards and twenty-seven 
plates held the entire exhibit. We have only to compare 
this with a recent state fair ap])le exhibit to be convinced 
of Minnesota's progress along this line. A factor in her 
success has been the importation of varieties of trees from 
the countries with the same climatic conditions as ours. 
The apple crop of Minnesota in 1903 was valued at $550,- 
000. The chief problem now is the marketing. While chil- 
dren in our cities crave and are sometimes denied this lus- 
cious fruit, it is fed to tlie pigs or allowed to rot on the 
ground in orchards not a hundred miles distant. 

LANDS So great has been the interest in southern and 
SWAMP central Minnesota, that aside from its timber and 
iron mines, little attention has been given to the 
northern section of the state. Here are five million acres 
of swamp land which, when drained, will furnish an agi'i- 
cultural area, having a soil unexcelled for raising of roots, 
grain and hay. It is stated upon tests that a given area in 

— 125— 



this section will pasture twice as many cattle as the same 
acreage in the highly developed Mississippi Valley. 

The state is aiding in the settlement of this part of 
Minnesota and we now find there the thriving towns of 
Jiosseau, Warroad, Eeaudette and Spooner. 



126 



CHAPTER XII 

STOCK RAISING 

OF DAIRYING Several causes comi)iue to encourage 

INTRODUCTION dairying in Minnesota. We have acres 
of wild, natural meadow and hay is 
c.isily grown in all parts of the state; our climate is cool 
and oiir water supply pui'e and abundant; the many flour 
Jiiills aiul the flax seed mills furnish good food in their 
ln'-[)ro(lucts and we are within easy reach of great markets. 
Xot withstanding these advantages, dairying as an in- 
dustiy, was scarcely begun in Minnesota before 1884 when 
the farmers of' Southern Minnesota felt the need of crop 
rotation and the raising of livestock to restore the fertility 
of their fields. Rapidly, the industry spread to other parts 
of the state aud it is prophesied that the time is not far 
distant vrhen Xorthern ]\linnesota will take the lead in 
dairy ]iro(liu-ts. 

IMPROVED The agricultural college has done some of 
STOCK its most efficient work in animal husband- 

ry and throughout the state its influence is 
Jclt in the better selection and care of cattle. Prof. Haecker 
of the University made a careful survey of dairy conditions 
in the state in 1892 and published a report of his observa- 
tions. Especially, lie advocated the co-operative creamery as 
a nutans to improve conditions. James J. Hill has also 
done nuu-h to inmrove the stock, especially of Xorthern Min- 
nesota, by intro(hicing improved breeds of cattle. 

—137 — 



During the last fifteen years, the average product of 
butter fat per cow has increased 50 per cent, and Minne- 
sota has won thirteen out of fifteen of the national cham- 
pionship banners on her dairy products. By the census of 
1910, she ranked third among the states of the Union in 
the amount of butter produced. 

CREAMERIES Creameries and cheese factories increase 
in numbers annually. In 1915, we had 
850 creameries, 622 of which were co-operative ; we had 
856,047 cows and 'made over 123,000,000 pounds of butter 
valued at $32,067,000 and during the same year we manu- 
factured 5,595,000 pounds of cheese. The entire value of 
our dairy products is about $96,000,000 annually. 

'^A gold mine in the state that is getting richer every 
day and can continue without limit. There are eight hun- 
dred fifty creameries : for every creamery there are a hun- 
dred farmers ; and for every farmer ten cows — a million cat- 
tle upon a thousand hills. To complete the picture, look 
again and see the crystal rivers winding, and lakes without 
number, with unsullied water reflecting the pure i)lue of 
the sky, unsurpassed in number and beauty, Xo wonder 
we make the best butter in the world. If you have a friend 
who does not live in this state, tell him about it."' — Report 
of State Dairy and Food Department, 1915. 

The remarkable success of the dairy industry through- 
out the state has encouraged the raising of other live stock 
as beef-cattle, hogs, and sheep. Their number is constant- 
ly^ increasing. 

The great packing indu.stries of several Minnesota cities, 
particularly those of South St. Paul, afford a ready 
market for the live stock produced in this section of the 
Xorthwest and her meat products are shipped not only 
throughout the United States but to foreign countries as 
well. 

—128 — 



POULTRY Another line of animal production is that of 
poultry. The raising of poultry was once con- 
sidered of very minor importance on the farm and was 
quite exclusively the wonjan's work, but the estimated val- 
ue of poultry production for the last year was over thirty 
seven million dollars; and the staunch old Plymouth Rock 
or the little Leghorn hen has 'laid for' the money lender 
and has scratched away the mortgage from many a Minne- 
sota homestead. 

BEE-KEEPING An industry that is yet in its infancy in 
our state is bee-keeping. Foremost in the 
state in this industry, is Rev. Francis Jager who produced m 
one year on a little farm on Lake Minnetonka over six tons of 
honey. The Regents of the University established in 1914, 
the Division of Bee Culture at the College of Agriculture 
and invited Rev. Jager to become its leader. Honey 
producing plants are fireweed, flowers, maples, dandelions, 
fruit trees, willows, basswood, and many others. 

The Professor tells us: "Tons of honey are going to 
waste and millions of dollars are lost, because there are 
practically no good bee-keepers in the state." 



— 12»— 



CHAPTER XIII 

MILLING 

FIRST MILL A state so well fitted for the cultiva- 

tion of cereals as Minnesota is, and hav- 
ing its abundant water power, would quite naturally be- 
come a milling center. 

The first mill known to have been erected in Minne- 
sota was the government mill built by Colonel Snelling near 
the fort. The first under individual ow^nership was \rcilt 
by Lemuel Bolles in Afton, Washington County. 

Between 1850-'55, many grist mills were built in dif- 
ferent parts of the state. [Tn 1853, Eichard Eogers and 
Franklin Steele built a merchant mill at St. Anthony Falls 
in East Minneapolis which was followed in 1854, by a much 
larger enterprise founded by Eastman, Eollins and Upton 
who built a mill on the lower end of HenneiDin Island at a 
cost of sixteen thousand dollars. This mill was called "The 
Minnesota;" it was forty feet by sixty feet and was the 
nucleus from ^^'hich has grown the great milling industry 
of Minneapolis. J 

In 185-^, two men, Gardiner of Hastings, and Archi- 
bald, who had a small mill on the Cannon Eiver, intro- 
duced into their mills a new process for grinding wheat. 
Heretofore, the purpose of milling machinery had been to 
grind rapidly and at high pressure, producing as much flour 
as possible at the first grinding. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. 
Archibald each discovered that the heat generated by this 
method produced dark, pasty flour and they increased the 

—130— 



number of grindings and reduced the pressure. For some- 
time, the flour of these mills brought a higher price in the 
markets than did that from any other mills of the state 
and they gave Minnesota flour a good reputation. 

THE MIDDLINGS The middling is that portion of 
PURIFIER the wheat grain lying between the 

husk and the softer, starchy cen- 
ter. This portion of the kernel is its most valuable part 
but was formerly thought to be useless, and was cast out 
in making flour. 

In 1861, Alexander Faribault sent to Montreal for two 
brothers (La Croix) to build him a mill. These brothers 
were from France and were skilled millers. After they had 
finished building the plant for Faribault, they built one for 
themselves at Faribault. Here they experimented in con- 
structing an improvement in milling machinery already in 
use in France, known as a middlings purifier. By this ma- 
chinery, the middlings were used and the flour produced 
was far superior in its rising power and its nutritive value 
to that already in use. 

Before the La Croix brothers had their new machinery 
well installed, a freshet swept away their dam and Edmund 
La Croix moved to Minneapolis. He visited the millers 
of Minneapolis and told them of the middlings purifier. 
One, George Christian, had faith enough in his story to 
allow him to build and install the machine. It cost about 
three hundred dollars and it revolutionized the milling in- 
dustry of the state. The price of Minneapolis and Minne- 
sota flour increased from one to three dollars a barrel. By 
saving so large a portion of each grain, about four bushels 
of wjieat were now required to make a barrel of flour while 
five had been used before. 

Another very important result of the adoption of this 
bit of machinery was in the increased production of spring 
wheat. 

Minnesota always raised spring wheat rather than win- 

—131 — 



ter wheat, but since it has a much harder shell than the 
winter variety and consequently more "middlings," it had 
been thought of less value in flour making. The middlings 
purifier changed this rating. Hard spring wheat grew in 
demand and the wheat crop was almost doubled between 
1870-1880. 

The La Croix brothers whose study led to such great 
good for the state, died practically unrewarded. 

Since this time, many other improvements have been 
made in milling machinery. The best processes in use in 
France, Austria and Germany have been carefully studied 
and some of them adopted. The old stones which ground 
the grain have been replaced by rollers of steel and por- 
celain which crush it. 

WASHBURN In 1878, the Washburn mill of Minneapo- 
MILL lis was totally destroyed by an explosion of 

flour dust. Several mills caught fire and 
eigliteen lives were lost. The property loss was about one 
million dollars. The mills were rebuilt at once. The Pills- 
bury mill constructed then was at that time the largest in 
the world. 

FLOUR The export of flour from Minnesota to foreign 

EXPORT countries began in 1878, when Minneapolis 
sent out 107,183 barrels; in 1890, we export- 
ed about two million barrels and ten years later, over four 
million barrels, or about one-fourth the entire flour export 
of the United States. 

This enormous output was again doubled at the close 
of the next decade when we shipped over eight million bar- 
rels. 

Duluth, as well as Minneapolis, is counted one of the 
•great milling centers of America; and outside of these two 
cities there are about two hundred mills in the state. 

At the World's Exposition at Paris, Minnesota flour 
and bread each took first premium, proving that we rank 
first in the world not only in the quantity but in the qual- 
ity of this production. 

—132— 



CHAPTER XIV 

LUMBERING 

LOCATION Originally, over half of Minnesota v:as 

OF FORESTS covered with forests, especially the north- 
ern counties of Cook, Lake, St. Louis, 
Itasca, Beltrami, and Koochiching. When eastern capital- 
ists heard of the immense areas of pine in this state, some 
of them became active in promoting lumber industry in this 
middle west, while others bought extensive tracts for specu- 
lation. 

EARLY Daniel Stanchfield of Wisconsin was 

LUMBERING sent up the Rum Eiver to ascertain the 
extent of this natural timber and when 
he reported on the immense forests with the navigable rivers 
for transporting the logs, it was but a short time until 
clams, logging camps, and saw mills sprang into existence 
along the Eum, Mississippi and St. Croix Elvers, as well as 
the streams along our northern boundary. 

Franklin Steele secured ten thousand dollars to build 
a dam and saw mill at St. Anthony Falls, and hired Chippewa 
Indians to cut down trees. Then it seemed impossible to 
use all, the timber of this state, and much was laid waste. 

Lumbering has been extensively carried on in Minne- 
sota for about thirty years, during which time more than 
lialf of our most valuable timber has been cut, or destroyed 
])y fire. A large, share of our white and Xorway Pine has 
been destroyed. 

—133— 



Not until the logging camps became less numerous and 
several saw mills ceased operating, did the state awake to 
the fact that the trees were not growing fast enough to take 
the place of those destroyed. This led to a movement of 
the state and Federal government to preserve our forests, 
by setting aside reserve forest tracts, promoting a plan of 
reforestry, and also adopting means to prevent forest iires. 

FOREST FIRES Fires have caused great loss in our 

northern pineries. In 1871 a great 

conflagration swept over this district, then thinly settled. 

September 1, 1894, a fire started in Pine County, and 
before it could be checked, Hinckley and eight other vil- 
lages were totally destroyed. Over four hundred lives were 
lost and one million dollars worth of property destroyed. 

In 1908, the town of Chisholm on the Mesabi Eange 
was left in ruins, and two years later, one of the worst rav- 
ages swept away the lumbering towns of Beaudette and 
Spooner in Beltrami County. A large number of settlers 
made their escape on trains, while others remaining, saved 
themselves in the Eainy Eiver. 

After these disasters, the state promptly aided the suf- 
ferers by money contributions and general relief but the 
great timber loss awakened the people of Minnesota to the 
necessity of co-operation in protecting and preserving our 
timbered lands. Not only are they of industrial value but 
they conserve the lakes and streams, preserve the game, 
modify the climate, beautify the landscape, and furnish ex- 
cellent health resorts. This was so vividly portrayed, in 
the addresses of Gilford Pinchot, former United States For- 
ester, and in articles written by General C. C. Andrews of 
Minnesota, as to bring about a public sentiment which de- 
manded forest legislation. 

FORESTRY In 1895, the first forest conservation law 
LAWS passed the legislature, whereby the state 

auditor was made a forest commissioner with authority to 

—134— 



appoint a chief fire warden, who directed sub state wardens, 
and furnished printed notices warning citizens against dan- 
ger from negligence. 

This warden must be perfectly familiar with our for- 
ests, kind and condition of each, and the effort to promote 
new timber growth. 

Auditor Eobert C. Dunn appointed Gen. C. C. Andrews 
the first chief warden; he ably served in this capacity for 
sixteen years. It was largely through his efforts, and the 
circulation of his yearly report to the state fire commission- 
er, that a change in the method of cutting forests was in- 
stituted. Under present rules, loggers cut only those trees 
that are eight inches or more in diameter, and must avoid 
injury to younger growth. 

The legislature of 1911 abolished the office of Forest 
Commissioner a.nd established a state board of forestry. The 
institution of a College of Forestry in the State University 
and the appointment of city foresters show development in 
the right direction. 

A forest nursery at Cass Lake raises five hundred thou- 
sand seedlings a year, to be used in the reforestation of 
Minnesota, w^hile a smaller one in Superior National For- 
est furnishes about fifty thousand plants a years for that 
reserve. 

PRESENT At present there are fifteen hundred 

INDUSTRIES camps operating in Minnesota forests, 
where about forty thousand men find 
winter employment of which 260,000 are engaged in dif- 
ferent wood working occupations. 

NATIONAL The United States government has aided 
PARKS Minnesota in preserving her forests by es- 

tablishing wathin her boundary two na- 
tional reserves, one of which is near Lake Vermillion, and 
the other bordering Cass and Leech Lakes. 

— 135— 



ITASCA From time to time the legislature of 

STATE PARK the. state has created certain State 
Parks. Ill 1891 a tract of nearly twenty 
thoiifc^and acres, near the head waters of the Mississippi 
River, was set aside as Itasca State Park. This park contains 
over forty million feet of white pine, which is protected as 
well as the game and fish included within its borders. An 
annual appropriation is made by the legislature for the im- 
provement of this park which has become quite a sum- 
mer resort. Its three hundred lakes with their pike, bass, 
and pickerel are an attraction for the angler while the wild 
area with its native animals is a paradise for the student of 
nature. A large, log hotel called Douglas Lodge, has been 
Erected by the state, in the midst of a splendid body of Nor- 
way pine on the southeast corner of Lake Itasca. This, 
with a club house and several cottages, accommodate its 
guests, while others enjoy tent life. 

INTER-STATE In 1895, Geo. H. Hazzard started ac- 

PARK tion to induce the states of Minne- 

sota and Wisconsin to secure the Dal- 
les of the St. Croix at St. Croix, Wisconsin and Taylor's 
Falls, Minnesota as a park. This gigantic task was success- 
ful and the first inter-state j^ark in the United States was 
reserved. 

This spot with its waterfalls and various forms of 
plant life is most picturesque, while its rock features and 
giants' Kettles are of great geological interest. Inter-state 
Park lias been improved by the work of the government on 
the St. Croix River and hy the building of the Xorthern 
Pacific depot. 

OTH'^R Other state parks are at Minneopa Falls near 

STATE Mankato, Burntside, east of Lake Vermillion, 

PARKS Pillsbury near Brainerd, Alexander Ramsey at 

Redwood Falls, and the Horace Austin at Austin. 

It is interesting to note tlie growth of a few of the 

—J 36— 



ities which liave been established in the lumber reo^ions 



to" 



LITTLE The first settlement was made at Little Falls 

FALLS in 1848 and the village was incorporated in 

1880. Little Falls has now a population of 
al)0ut six thousand and it owes its growth in great measure 
to the development of its water power by the Little Falls 
Power Company. 

BRAINERD Brainerd, with a population of about eight 
thousand, was organized in 1871, soon aft- 
er the building of the Xorthern Pacific and owes its growth 
to the construction of a great dam across the Mississippi by 
Charles F. Kindred and Company. 

Much interest has recently been awakened in this lo- 
cality by the development of iron deposits in the Cuyuna 
Pange. 

CLOQUET Carleton County was organized in 1858. It 
is drained by the St. Louis River and its trib- 
utaries. The St. Louis River furnishes fine water power 
from falls occurring between Cloquet and • Duluth. The 
principal power plant is at Thomson. Cloquet began its 
milling industry in 1878 when Charles D. Harwood erect- 
ed its first steam saw mill with a capacity of fifty thousand 
feet. It is now a city of eight thousand inhabitants and 
numbers among its lumber industries, a box factory, three 
lath mills, five lumber mills, one paper and two pulp mills. 

AITKIN Aitkin County contains several localities of in- 
terest in our earlv history. 

Sandy Lake was visited by Pike in 1805-6. Here w^as 
lot-ated a trading post, the headquarters for twenty years 
of British and Indian traders, along the portage route from 
Winnipeg to Lake Superior. 

At Pokes^ama Falls was the famous battle between the 
Cliippewa and the Sioux. Aitkin is the county seat of this 
county and has large lumber interests. 

— 137— 



PINE CITY Covered with pine timber and traversed b_y 
many streams by which logs could be float- 
ed to the St. Croix, the region of Pine County was the 
scene of pioneer lumbering activities. It is now a well de- 
veloped agricultural and grazing land. 

As early as 1840, a mission was established by Rev. Mr. 
Kirkland at the present site of Pine City but was neces- 
sarily abandoned because of the hostilities between the war- 
ring Indian tribes. 

The present town of Pine City was organized in 1874 
and is the county seat. 

INTERNATIONAL International Falls, the county seat 
FALLS of Koochiching County, in northern 

Minnesota owes its prominence to 
the development of the immense water power of the Eainy 
River at this place. This river which drains a vast basin com- 
prising fifteen thousand square miles, here falls from twenty- 
four to thirty-four feet. The total power, which averages from 
twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand horse-power is fully 
developed and used in pulp, paper, planing mills, and other in- 
dustries ; beside lighting and pumping water in Interna- 
tional Falls, and the Canadian city of Fort Frances, On- 
tario, on the opposite side of the river. Each city has a 
power plant, which furnishes a uniform and reliable sup- 

The credit of this great economic achievement is due 
chiefly to Mr. E. W. Barkus, who is president of the Min- 
nesota and Ontario Power Company on the Canadian side 
and the Rainy River Improvement Company on the Ameri- 
can side. He has secured the right to construct and oper- 
ate these plants, and through his efforts the new border 
towns secured a railroad to connect them with outlying 
district's, and to furnish them a market for their products. 

International Falls has one paper mill which produces 
from spruce pulp two hundred twenty tons of paper a day. 

—138— 



This is used principally by the daily papers of St. Paul and 
Chicago. 

The development of the industries made possible by 
this great power supply has been an influence in settling 
the adjacent farming district which is called upon for food 
and to supply much of the raw material used in its mills. 



— 139- 



CHAPTER XV 

MINING AND QUARRYING 

IRON RANGES While pioneer settlers were convert- 
ing the fertile rolling prairies of Min- 
nesota into rich agricultural and . dairying districts, and 
the woodman's ax resounded through its dense hardwood 
forests, there lay hidden in its northeastern counties, vast de- 
posits of iron ore which have proved a most notable re- 
source. 

Miimesota ranks first among the states of the Union 
in iron ore production. It leads the world, not only in the 
amount of mineral produced, but in its grade. 

There are three distinct ranges in the state. The Ver- 
million, Mesaba, and Cuyuna. 

VERMILLION In 1870, George C. Stone, a prominent 
RANGE business man of Duluth, who had in- 

vestigated and was convinced of the 
presence of mineral wealth in the Vermillion, put forth his 
effort to obtain capital for its development. 

The few who had sufficient faith in the existence of 
rich iron deposits to listen to Mr. Stone, believed them to 
be so far removed from civilization that the project would 
prove a failure. The per^-^istent efforts of Mr. Stone finally 
succeofled in interesting Charlemagne Tower, a capitalist of 
Pennsylvania, who furnished funds to open and operate the 
mines. The Minnesota Iron Company was organized. 

— 140— 



Four million dollars were spent on eighty miles of railroad 
connecting Duluth with the iron range. This road was 
completed in 1884 and 62,124: tons of ore were shipped from 
the Soudan mine near Tower. The mines near Ely, which 
is twenty miles east of Tower, were opened in 1886. 



MESABA The Mesaba Eange where have proved to be 
RANGE our most valuable deposits, lies about twenty 

miles south of the Vermillion range and par- 
allel to it. As early as 1850, Dr. J. G. Norwood found 
iron ore at Gunflint Lake at the eastern end of this range; 
while its presence at the Avestern end was discovered by H. 
H. Eames in 1866. It was not until about twenty-five 
years ago when the Merrith pioneer operators struck ore 
near Mountain Iron, that the development of the Mesaba 
began. When a railroad was completed in 1892, the llrst 
shipment of iron ore was made. A year later, the upturned 
roots of a tree revealed to a prospector, the presence of iron 
at Biwabik, and a mine was located there. 

This inexhaustible store of natural wealth is a soft 
hematite ore, often yielding 70 per cent of pure metal, and 
lying very near the surface of the ground. 

METHOD Much of the mining on this range is 

OF MINING the open pit system. The surface is 

stripped to a depth of from twenty to 
one hundred feet, when the soft red ore is exposed. Large 
steam shovels lift it from the heart of the pit into the ore 
cars which stand on temporary tracks ready to receive it. 
The powerful machinery operates with such ease that in a 
short time a train of from fifty to one hundred twenty-five 
cars drawn by a gigantic engine is moving on its way to 
Two Harbors, Superior or Duluth. When these cars reach 
the docks, the chutes which are raised and lowered by elec- 
tricity, remove the ore into lake boats where it speeds on 
its way to Pittsburg, Cleveland and other cities near the 

—141— 



eastern coal beds, where it is smelted and manufactured. 

This range shows the observer some of the largest open 
pit mines in the world. The deposits lying deeper are 
worked by the under-ground method. 

SETTLEMENT About 125,000 men are employed in the 
mines, and general offices and in trans- 
porting the ore. With the development of this great in- 
dustry, towns and villages sprang up in Northeastern Min- 
nesota. The thrifty farmers followed to supply the food 
demand which this new population created. 

Virginia, a place of nearly 12,000 inhabitants, is sev- 
enty-five miles northwest of Duluth, while only twenty-two 
miles farther west is Hibbing, about the same size and said 
to be the richest town in the world. Its school buildings 
cost $500,000; city hall $135,000; and library $35,000. The 
Hull Eust mine, located here, is the largest open pit mine 
in the world, while the Mahoning alone has produced about 
nineteen million tons of ore. It is connected by an elec- 
tric line to Gilbert situated at the eastern end of the 
range. 

The Oliver Mining Company has constructed a con- 
centrating plant at Trout Lake near Coleraine, at a cost 
of one and one-half million dollars, for the purpose of wash- 
ing the sand from certain ore, thus making it of market 
value. Several such plants are now being constructed. At 
the Brunt Mine, a drying plant to reduce the moisture of 
the ore is proving a successful experiment. 

Grand Eapids, Chisholm, Eveleth, and Biwabik are 
hustling mining towns. 

CUYUNA This iron range which lies in Crow Wing and 
RANGE Aitkin Counties was discovered and brought 

into prominence through the efforts of Mr. 
Cuyler Adams. It is about fifty-five miles long and con- 
tains magnetic low grade ore interspersed with deep beds 
of graphite which may prove a valuable resource to the 

—142— 



state. Mining operations began in this region in 1910. 

Minnesota produces three-fifths of the iron mined in 
the United States, and it is estimated that she will be 
among the greatest iron producing states for many years. 
From 1873 to 1889, this northeastern section of Minne- 
sota was open to purchase and settlement as other state 
lands; but in 1889, the state legislated to lease this prop- 
erty for a period of fifty years at a royalty of twenty-five 
cents on each ton of ore mined. The receipts which thus 
far have amounted to $4,000,000 go to increase our school 
fund. 

About one-tenth of the mines are owned by the state, 
and the others by private parties. The state auditor has 
charge of the mineral lands and mining affairs of the 
state. This office must employ expert mining engineers to 
oversee the methods used on leased mining properties and 
a large force or men to check out the cars of ore. The 
state has its offices and headquarters at Hibbing where about 
twenty men are employed as inspectors, car checkers, and 
office help. The inspectors must visit the mines every three 
months to see that conditions are keipt as free from danger 
as possible. 

DULUTH The vicinity of the St. Louis Eiver from wh^'ch 
St. Louis County derives its name, was vis- 
ited as early as 1680 by French travelers and Jesuit Mis- 
r^ionaries. It was then that Capt. Greyloson DuLuth reached 
tlie western end of Lake Superior. He was followed a few 
years later by his brother, Jean DuLuth, who established 
trading posts at the mouth of Pigeon River and on Min- 
nesota Point. The wealth of furs later attracted the Amer- 
ican and Astor Fur Companies with headquarters along the 
northern shores of Lake Superior. In these early days, 
prophecv favored Fond du Lac as being the future western 
lake post. 

— 143- 



FIRST The first permanent settlers who arrived at 

SETTLERS the head of Lake Superior located at Super- 
ior on the southwestern point of the lake, and 
this fast-growing village held unrivalled supremacy until 
1870. 

At this time, the first railroad from St. Paul to the 
head of the lake was built, and finding it impossible to se- 
cure land titles for the terminus of the road at Superior, 
Wisconsin, it was located on the Minnesota side. 

A settlement here, which had existed since 1854, w^as 
named Duluth by Eev. Joseph Wilson, a Presbyterian min- 
ister. He was given two lots in the new town as reward for 
this service. A post-office was established in 1857 with 
pioneer J. B. Culver as its first postmaster. In 1869, a 
newspaper, "The Duluth Minnesotian'^ sprang into exist- 
ence with Dr. Thomas Foster, editor. 

GEORGE STONE In 1870, there came to Duluth, George 
C. Stone. His endeavors in the de- 
velopment of the mining interests of the section have al- 
ready been noted. Within three years through the success 
of his efforts, and the entrance of the railroad, Duluth 
boasted a population of five thousand. This boom was, 
however, followed by as rapid a depression. 

DECLINE In 1873 Jay Cooke, who had been one of the 
chief promoters of the newly proposed North- 
ern Pacific railroad, failed. This so reacted on the business 
of Duluth, that banks closed their doors; merchants be- 
came bankrupt; and three-fourths of the people left the 
town. The population soon fell to 1,300. It was five years 
before this railroad was completed and confidence restored. 

GROWTH Duluth being now connected with the wheat 
growing section of the Eed Eiver Valley, 
maintained a steady, prosperous growth until today its pop- 
ulation numbers 90,000. 

— 144-- 



Trade was greatly facilitated by the opening of the 
canal across Minnesota Point. This channel, now spanned 
by the only aerial bridge in the United States, is wide 
enough to afford entrance to the large lake boats, and gives 
Duluth the finest land-locked harbor in the world, and 
makes it a famous inland port. In 1913, the tonnage of its 
freight surpassed that of New York, Chicago, Liverpool or 
London. 

It is the largest flax-seed market in the world. The 
general offices of the United States Steel Corporation are 
located there, and the building of the twenty-million dol- 
lar steel plant at West Duluth ]3redicts a new era of manu- 
facture fur the upper ^lississijuii Valley. 

QUARRYING Besides iron ore, this state has exten- 
sive deposits of sandstone, limestone, 
granite, and jasper. Most important of these is granite, 
widely distributed through the state. There are three well 
defined sections noted for this product. A district surround- 
ing St. Cloud in Sherburne, Benton, and Stearns Coun- 
ties produces red and gray granite; along the Minnesota 
River from Big Stone to New Ulm, is another section. 
The region of Big Stone Lake furnishes gray granite. 

Mesaba range also supplies much granite. Bed Jas- 
per, so highly valued by the Indians, occurs in southwest- 
ern Minnesota; the rougher building stones, sandstone raid 
limestone, are quarried in abundance. Deposits of lime- 
stone occur along the Mississippi from Stillwater to Wi- 
nona, and on the Minnesota in the Mankato-Ivasota dis- 
trict. 

Clay suitable for making brick, tile, pottery and cement 
is found throughout the state. The annual output of these 
building materials is about three million dollars. 

ST. CLOUD St. Cloud, in Stearns County, and on the 

Mississippi Biver, was first settled in 1854. 

In the heart of an agricultural and timber region and with 

—145— 



easy river transportation, its growth was steady. In 1886, a 
dam having a granite bed was built at a cost of $200,000, 
furnishing water power for flour and saw mills. With a 
population of 13,500, this is one of the most modern cities 
of the state. Here are located a State Xormal School, and 
the State Reformatory. 

SAUK RAPIDS Sauk Eapids and Watab are on the sites 
AND WATAB of former Indian trading stations. They 
also have great quarries of granite; and 
the paper mill at Watab supplied by adjacent spruce forests, 
is one of the largest in Minnesota. Sauk Rapids was visited 
by a terrific cyclone in 1886; from which it suffered con- 
siderable damage, but it was at once re-built. 



—J 46- 



CHAPTER XVI 

EDUCATION 

Minnesota has special reason to be proud of its public 
school system. In no other state has there been a more steady 
effort to develop a school system that shall meet the actual 
needs of the people. 

FIRST We have read of the first school of the state 

SCHOOL established in 1847 in St. Paul with Miss 
Harriet Bishop as teacher. This first school 
building was a little hut about ten feet by twelve, built of 
log and chinked with mud and having a stick chimney and 
mud fire place. Poor as it was. it was probably as good as 
the majority of homes of that time. 

This school opened with an attendance of nine pupils 
of whom two were white, but before the year had closed, the 
number had increased to forty. 

FIRST In these early days of the territory 

SCHOOL BUILDING the "Ladies' Sewing Society" was 
as efficient as our ladies' civic 
leagues and our women's clubs of the present. 

In 1848, the Sewing Society interested themselves in 
building a house which should serve as a school, church, and 
place for all public meetings. The sum needed for its erec- 
tion would not seem very great now, (about $'300), but it 
took considerable effort then to raise that amount. However, 
the ladies succeeded and the school house was erected near 
St. Peter and Third Streets. 

As already noted, the reservation made Minnesota by 
the Federal government for educational purposes, when the 
territory was organized, was unusually large. By that res- 

-147- 



ervation, sections sixteen and thirty-six in each township 
were set apart for school purposes. 

ESTABLISH- Our first territorial legislature enacted a 
MENT OF law providing for the establishment of a 

SCHOOLS system of schools; and during the same 

year, the citizens of St. Paul held a school 
meeting in which they organized the town into school dis- 
tricts and made provision for the election of school com- 
missioners and establishment of a school in each district. 

STATE SUPT. The legislature of 1851 provided for the 
OF PUBLIC creation of the office of State Superin- 

INSTRUCTION tendent of Public Instruction and a 

state system of schools; but the salary 
allowed for this office, ($100 a year), was so meager that 
one of ability could scarcely afford to hold it; and from 
1856 to 1860, the office was practically vacant. An attempt 
was then made to leave this department under the supervi- 
sion of the Secretary of State; but this plan also,' was un- 
satisfactory; and in 1867, when we had in the state 100,000 
children of school age and when our school fund had in- 
creased to about one and a half million dollars, the opmion 
prevailed that the office of the State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction was one of greatest importance and 
should be better paid. Under a new system, Mark Dunn ell 
was appointed superintendent with a fair salary; and under 
his leadership, a state system was more carefully organized; 
a more thorough training for the teachers' profession was 
required; teachers met in institutes and a state teachers' 
association was organized. 

The system then fairly launched, has not ceased to ex- 
pand with the needs of the growing commonwealth. 



-148- 



DISPOSAL We should be very grateful to our early 
OF SCHOOL statesmen for their careful disposal of the 
LANDS great land reservations made us by Con- 

gress. 

Neighboring states sold their school lands at liberal 
prices in order to encourage settlement and consequent im- 
provement of the land. By doing this, they preserved only 
a comparatively small school fund. 

In Minnesota, the question of the disposal of the school 
lands was discussed long and thoroughly. Members of the 
Constitutional Convention were divided in their opinions. 
Some wanted the land in each county sold and its price 
reserved as a county school fund to be used entirely in the 
support of the schools of that county; others, particularly 
Thomas Galbraith 'and Thomas Wilson of Winona, debated 
against this county plan and urged that the sum received 
for all school lands of the state should be reserved in a cen- 
tral fund, the income of which should be used for the sup- 
port of schools in all parts of the state. It ^ was finally de- 
cided that "the school lands should be sold at public sale, 
the principal to be preserved forever inviolate and undimin- 
ished as a perpetual school fund of the state; and that the 
income arising from such fund should be distributed to the 
townships in proportion to the number of scholars between 
the ages of five and twenty-one years, the Legislature being 
given authority over the investment of the funds."' 

At this time, state lands were selling at one dollar and 
a quarter per acre but, anxious to accumulate as large a 
school fund as possible, our statesmen decided in 1861. to 
sell school lands at seven dollars per acre. This price was 
afterward reduced to five dollars. 

LEASING OF With the discovery of mineral '^^, there 
MINERAL arose a question as to whether school 

LANDS lands containing ore should be sold at all 

or not. Through the initiative of Capt. 
William Braden, State Auditor between 1882-'91, such lands 

--149— 



are not sold but leased by the state and pay 25 cents royalty 
on each ton of ore produced. 

Our school fund was in 1914, thirt3^-two million dollars. 
This amount, carefully invested by the Board of Invest- 
ment (comprising the Governor, State Treasurer, State Audi- 
tor, President of the Board of Eegents of the University and 
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) yields an annual 
income of about $1,320,000. 

This does not nearly meet the entire expenses of the 
schools of the state. The common schools receive in addi- 
tion, the proceeds of a local tax and of a state tax of one 
mill. 

Special aid is also given to districts that meet certain 
requirements in length of terms, better qualifications 
of teachers, or better equipment. 

These schools, according to their advancement, are 
classified as graded, semi-o-raded, rural, and state hidi 
schools and they receive from $125 to $1,500 state aid. 

NORMAL In 1858, largely through the influence of Dr. 
SCHOOLS John Ford of Winona, provision was made by 
the legislature for the establishment of three 
normal schools for the training of teachers. These schools 
were located at Winona, Mankato, and St. Cloud. 

The first of these normal schools was opened at Winona 
in 1860 with Prof. John Ogden of Ohio as its principal ; 
the second, at Mankato, 1868 ;* and the third, at St. Cloud 
in 1869. Two others have been established since, one at 
Moorhead in 1888, and the other at Duluth, in 1892. 

Through the efforts of these schools, teaching has come 
to be recognized as a profession and the standard of work 
in the common schools has steadily risen. 

UNIVERSITY In 1851, Congress allowed Minnesota a 

reservation of two townships of land ro 

endow a university to be located at or near St. Anthony 

Falls. The legislature established this university and pro- 

—150— 



vided for its government tJiroiigli a board of twelve regents 
to be elected by the legislature. 

The board was enthusiastic and set about to open the 
university as soon as possible. Franklin Steele, one of the 
regents, contributed several lots near the Falls as a building 
site, and the others subscribed money. Soon they had erect- 
ed a building of two stories, thirty by forty feet. For three 
years, classes were held in this building, but the regents 
were very ambitious for the rapid growth of the school and, 
in 1856, began the erection of a large building estimated to 
^■^.st about $50,000. In order to do this, all the property 
of the university was mortgaged; the panic of 1857, with 
its attending misfortunes, made it impossible to continue the 
work on the building and it stood unused for ten years. In 
1867, a board, appointed for that purpose, succeeded in 
clearing up the debts contracted by the former board of re- 
gents; the building was completed and classes w^ere again 
opened at the University. Thirty-one boys and girls were 
enrolled the first term. 

The story of the University since that time has been 
one of continual advance. 

In 1884, Cyrus Northrup accepted its presidency. It is 
doubtful if any man of Minnesota is known with greater love 
and esteem than is Dr. Northrup. For twenty-seven years, he 
w^as leader of this, its greatest institution. There is no section 
of the state where his influence is not felt through the work 
of men and women whom his counsel has directed. Largely 
through his efforts, the University holds its eminent place 
in the confidence of the people of the state. 

When Dr. Xorthrop became its president its enrollment 
was 310; when he retired in 1911, it had reached 3,960. 

Dr. Northrop has been ably followed by Dr. George 
Vincent. Under his administration the registration at the 
University has continued to increase until in 1915-16, it 
numbered over five thousand, eight hundred of whom were 

— 151— 



enrolled in the freshman class; while through the remarkable 
growth of its Extension Department the University has be- 
come a vital factor in the life of the most remote village of 
Minnesota. 

In 1915, the Mayo brothers of Rochester subscribed two 
million dollars for the establishment of the Mayo Surgical 
Foundation merged with the State University, and during 
the year of 1915-1916, fifty-nine medical students took the 
post graduate work which it provided. 



Rochester is the site of St. Mary's Hospital and the 
Mayo Clinic with its world wide reputation. This town was 
settled in 1854 and incorporated in 1858. It lies in a broad 
valley in the center of a most fertile agricultural region, and 
until the building of its famous hospital, was a typical coun- 
try town. It has now many miles of paving, large and beau- 
tiful hotels, and a transient population of about three thou- 
sand. 

In August, 1883, when Rochester numbered about five 
thousand people, a terrific cyclone swept through the valley. 
Much of the town was destroyed; twenty people were killed 
and many more were injured. The Academy of Lourdes, 
maintained by the Sisters of St. Francis in the western part 
of the city, was little disturbed. The Sisters opened their 
doors to the injured who were in need of shelter and Dr. 
William W. Mayo attended them. 

There was then no hospital in Rochester and this ca- 
lamity made its need so apparent that a plan was soon for- 
mulated by which the Sisters of St. Francis built a hospital 
and Dr. Mayo became its attending physician. Such was 
the beginning of St. Mary's Hospital. 

In time, Dr. Mayo gave over his practice to his two 
sons, Dr. William J., graduate of Ann Arbor, Michigan and 
Dr. Charles, a graduate of the Northwestern University oi 
Illinois, familiarly known as "Dr. WilP and "Dr. Charlie." 

These men are blessed with great genius but a genius 
founded on hard work, constant study, and most careful at- 

— 152— 



teiition to the minutest details of their profession. 

The}' have surrounded themselves with a staff of phy- 
sicians each an expert in his particular line of science; while 
their offices and hospital are remarkable in their perfect 
equipment. 

STATE AGRI- The act of 1851, which created the state 
CULTURAL university, provided that one of its de- 

COLLEGE partments should be a college of agricul- 

ture. Such a college was established in 
Olencoe in 1(S5<S, but, in 1868, the legislature passed an act 
uniting it to the university. The control of the large na- 
tional land grant of 1862 for the advancement of agricul- 
tural education in the state, was placed at the same Li7iie 
under the control of the Board of Eegents of the University. 
These regents purchased one hundred twenty acres near tlie 
university for an experimental farm. The location proved 
to be unfavorable and, in 1882, they sold, and purchased 
instead, three hundred fifty acres in Ramsey County, the 
present site of the Agricultural College. 

For many years, the mission of this college was not ap- 
preciated throughout the state, but during the years of 
1915-1916, it enrolled seven hundred thirty-two students, 
and graduated ninetv-eight. 

In 1888, D. L. 'Kiehle, then Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, submitted to the board of regents, a plan for 
a "school of agriculture" which should admit students hav- 
ing only a common school education and which should pre- 
sent in a practical manner, subjects relating to farming. 
The plan was adopted and became very successful. The en- 
rollment of this school during 1916 was about seven hun- 
dred, with one hundred fifty graduates. 

The agricultural school and college have performed al- 
ready a great work in the state, a few examples of which have 
been noted. 



— 153 



CONSOLIDATION Many improvements in our public 
OF RURAL school system are in the process of 

SCHOOLS making. One of the most import- 

ant of these is the plan of con- 
solidation of schools in neighboring rural districts. This 
plan makes possible larger buildings, better equipment, bet- 
ter teachers, a broader course of instruction, often the pos- 
sibility of a high school course without leaving the farm for 
the city. 

The northern part of the state has adopted this improve- 
ment more rapidly than has the southern section. Clay, 
Koochiching, Beltrami, and Itasca are leading in the work. 
The organization of this system is more readily accomplished 
in these counties from the fact that they are originally di- 
vided into very large districts. One district in Koochiching 
county embraces eighty townships while one in Itasca coun- 
ty has sixty-two townships and sixty schools. 

In some communities, the school has become a social 
center where meet the boys' agricultural clubs, the farmers 
clubs, and other organizations. 

HIGH SCHOOL The general tendency toward practical 

IMPROVEMENTS education is shown in the revised cur- 
riculum of most of our high schools 
which now offer the student courses in practical agriculture, 
domestic art, manual training, and normal training. 

The last, established in recent years, offers a course 
in training for rural teachers and is supplemented by actual 
teaching experience in neighboring rural districts. 

High schools may now also, under certain requirements, 
include in their course two years of college work which will 
be credited by the University. 

SPECIAL Besides the public school, Minnesota cares for 

STATE many children in her special state schools. 

SCHOOLS The school for neglected children located in 

Owatonna was one of the first institutions of 

— 154-- 



its kind in the United States. Its work is inestimable in 
caring for children who, for some reasons, have no natural 
guardians, providing homes for them among worthy appli- 
cants, and furnishing them training for good citizenship. 

The state schools for defective children are located at 
Faribault. Here are received the blind, the deaf, or the 
mentall}^ deficient and they receive the best education, that 
modern science can supply. 

These are only a few of the many changes which sev- 
enty years have made in our school system. In no other field 
is the growth of the state more apparent. Let us compare 
the school of Miss Bishop in the mud-chinked log cabin with 
its stick chimney and its forty pupils, ^^most of whom wore 
blankets,'^ with our modern high school, and try to imagine 
the school to he in seventy j^ears more. Can we hope for 
too much? 



—155— 



CHAPTER XVII 

OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS 

STATE'S The first prison of the state, built at Stil]- 
PRISON water in 1851 was a frame building surround- 
ed by a high wooden fence with occasional plat- 
forms for armed guards. This had been rebuilt and made 
large enough to serve the state until 1913 when the new 
prison was ready for occupancy. 

This brick and concrete structure, situated about two 
and a half miles south of the old prison, and overlooking 
the St. Croix Eiver, is a model in prison architecture. Its 
cell rooms are large, well lighted and ventilated. It has an 
abundant supply of good spring water and a sanitary drain- 
age system. The prison enclosure of twenty-two acres is 
joined by a 471 acre prison farm. 

The labor at the prison is now performed under the 
"piece price" system through which a fixed price is paid for 
articles manufactured, and the prisoner receives a certain 
sum according to the value of his services, the amount being 
decided upon by the State Board of Control, and the Pris- 
on Warden. The total sum paid prisoners amounts to about 
six thousand dollars per month. 

Inmates are employed in the kitchen, dining room, 
tailor shop, state repair shop, park, warehouse, laundry, cell 
houses, and greenhouse; as well as in the twine factory and 
machine shop. 

The twine factory having a capacity of twenty million 

—156— 



pounds a year, employs two hundred fifty prisoners and fur- 
nishes twine to the farmers of the state at a lower price 
than outside makers. A large warehouse for storing raw 
material and the finished binding twine is within the en- 
closure while railroad tracks cross the entire prison ground. 
The prisoners now make such farm machinery as rakes, 
mowers, harvesters and binders. This sysem of labor makes 
the prison self-supporting. 

The moral and educational interests of the prisoners 
have been well provided for, in its popular night school, 
branch of the Chautauqua Society, and splendid library of 
seven thousand volumes supplemented by all the best maga- 
zines. Although not compulsory, the religious services held 
each Sunday, are well attended. The Prison Mirror which 
was established in 1887, is edited weekly by the inmates. 
They also maintain a creditable band and orchestra. 

The indeterminate sentence and the grade and merit sys- 
tem of discipline aim to reform the state charges and con- 
fine them until they cease to be a menace to public safety. 
Good conduct raises the standing of the prisoner, secures 
for him certain privileges and serves to diminish his sen- 
tence. 

BOYS' STATE The Boys' Training School was estab- 
TRAINING lished in 1866 as a House of Eefuge in 

SCHOOL St. Paul, and was intended as a place 

of training for minor boys and girls who 
were incorrigible or of vicious habits. 

Later, fdur hundred fifty acres of land were purchased 
two miles east of Eed Wing where the boys are cared for 
and are given not only a common school education, but also, 
training in some industrial line as carpentry, tailoring, 
printing or shoemaking. Plenty of out door work which is 
coiisidered an aid to moral development is provided by the 
gardens, the farm, and military drill. 

—157— 



GIRLS' HOME Sauk Center is the location of a similar 
home for girls. They are taught here 
the domestic and household arts, and gardening. 

Cottages, accommodating from fifty to seventy-five girls, 
are under care of matron, a housekeeper, and a teacher. 



STATE This correctional institution which is 

REFORMATORY located at St. Cloud was organized in 

1887 to receive offenders from sixteen 

to thirty years of age, who have participated in minor crimes. 

Such inmates as are not Federal prisoners or trans- 
ferred from the Red Wing Training School, are accepted 
under the indeterminate plan, and may be paroled when 
their conduct warrants, or for sufficient cause may be sent 
to the prison at Stillwater. 

This property includes a large syenite quarry where 
the prisoners help to obtain and prepare building stone. All 
practical trades are taught as well as extensive farming and 
gardening. Unless excused for sickness, six days of labor 
are required from each inmate, so that upon his release he 
will be fitted to fill some useful place, and gain a livelihood. 



INSANE HOSPI- Minnesota has three hospitals for the 
TALS AND insane at Fergus Falls, Rochester, and 

ASYLUMS St. Peter and two insane asylums at 

Anoka and Hastings. Patients are 
received at the hospitals and treated until the Superintendent 
can certify to their condition. The incurable are then 
placed in asylums. 

These institutions have good buildings, surrounded by 
grounds which are models of landscape gardening. Each nas 
in connection a large farm which supplies it with vegetables 
and dairy products, and gives the patients employment. 

The State spent $915,583, caring for its 6,895 insane 
during tlie year 1914. 

—158— 



SOLDIERS' In 1887, a home was established on Min^ 
HOME nehaha Creek for the soldiers and sailors in 

the Civil and Mexican Wars who were new 
too old or feehle to be self supporting. For two years, they 
occupied temporary quarters, but in 1889, new buildings 
were ready for occupancy. These comprised, besides its ad- 
ministration building, a woman's building, laundry, dining 
hall and a hospital. 

The home is in charge of a board of trustees who are 
appointed by the governor. Veterans of the Spanish Amer- 
ican War, and the wives, widows and mothers of the mem- 
bers of the Home are also received and supported. 

It is maintained by a fund from the state treasury and 
an allowance from the Federal Government of one hundred 
dollars for each male member who has not served in Indian 
Wars. 

MINNESOTA When Minnesota was organized as a ter- 
STATE ritory, June 1, 1849, the twenty thou- 

CAPITOL sand dollars appropriated for its capitol 

building could not be used until its per- 
manent seat of government had been located. 

The first legislature met in an old log tavern called 
''The Central House" which stood in the rear of the block 
now occupied by the Mannheimer Store. Here each chamber 
had a hall not over sixteen or eighteen feet square. The re- 
mainder of the building was a hotel. As neither legislative 
room was large enough to hold a joint session. Governor 
Eamsey delivered his message in the dining room. The 
governors private office was kept at his residence while the 
supreme court, having no fixed place of meeting, was com- 
pelled to use whatever was available. 

During the second session of the legislature, St. Paul 
was decided upon as the capitol city and Chas. Bazille, a 
pioneer land-owner, donated the state Capitol Square in the 
heart of the present city. A state house costing $40,000 
was completed in 1853, and served until March 1, 1881, when 

— 139 — 



it was destroyed by fire, entailing a heavy loss to the State; 
although its most valuable papers and records with the His- 
torical Society's library were saved. The legislature which 
was then in session, was forced to finish its meetings in the 
new market house, which was just completed. The capitol 
was rebuilt at a cost of $275,000, and was used until the 
business so far exceeded its capacity that Governor Xelson 
was forced to appoint a board of State Capitol Commis- 
sioners to attend to a new capitol enterprise. 

A large plat of land at the corner of Wabasha and Cen- 
tral Avenues was selected as a site for the imposing struc- 
ture erected as a suitable home for the ofl^ices of a rich and 
prosperous state. 

The building which was designed by Cass Gilbert, a 
Minnesota architect, compiises a main edifice, two wings 
and a large central dome. It is made of Georgia marble, 
and its interior halls are faced with highly polished Minne- 
sota limestone whose beautiful colors rival those in the oc- 
.casional panels of foreign marbles from Greece, Italy and 
France. Mural paintings by American artists adorn the 
walls, and tell their stories of the state's progress. 

The corner stone of the capitol was laid by Alexander 
Ramsey, July 27, 1898, and Cushman IC Davis delivered a 
most eloquent address. The building, which was completed 
at a cost of four and a half million dollars was first occu- 
pied by the legislature of 1905. 

BOARD OP In 1901, the Legislature created a Board of 
CONTROL Control of State Institutions. At first the 

State University and Normal schools were 
included under its management but the plan was unsatis- 
factory and these were placed under separate supervision. 

BOARD OF To assure the state that its charitable and 

VISITORS correctional institutions are judiciously 

managed and inmates properly treated, the 

legislature of 1907 organized a state board of visitors. It 

—160— 



is the duty of this board to visit these institutions and hy 
the order of the Governor to investigate and report upon 
conditions. 

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR AND 
INDIAN AFFAIRS 

DECLARATION In 1898, the call for volunteers for 
OF WAR the army again aroused the United 

States. This time, the call was not 
to quell insurrection but to aid a weaker nation in her long 
struggle for freedom from oppression. 

The sympathies of the people had been with Cuba dur- 
ing the whole course of her rebellion against Spain and they 
welcomed the proclamation of President McKinley that "in 
the name of Humanit}^, in the name of Civilization, in be- 
half of American interests in Cuba, war in Cuba must stop.'' 

War was formally declared against Spain by Congress, 
April 25, 1898, and the call for troops was immediately is- 
sued. 

ORGANIZATION As in the Civil War, Minnesota was 
OF MINNESOTA proud to be the first state to respond 
REGIMENTS to the call and three regiments for the 

Spanish war were mustered in at Fort 
Snelling, April 29, 1898, These three regiments were known 
as the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Minnesota Vol- 
unteers. 

Only the thirteenth was called into active foreign serv- 
ice. This regiment under Col. McReeve of Minneapolis, 
sailed from San Francisco for Manilla, July 5. They served 
with credit and distinction in the Philippines for a year. 
They were mustered out in San Francisco, October 12, 1899. 

PEACE When Spain sued for peace, a commission was 
appointed by President McKinley to negotiate a 

—161— 



treaty. Senator Cushman K. Davis of Minnesota was a 
member of this commission. 

BATTLE OP During the fall of 1898, the Indians of 

LEECH LAKE Leech Lake resisted an attempt of the 
United States marshal to arrest several 
wrong doers among them. 

About twenty men from Fort Snelling accompanied the 
marshal in a second attempt to carry out the authority of 
the government and these were surrounded by Indians and 
attacked. Six were killed and nine were wounded. 

Fearing a general Indian uprising, the settlers of the 
mcinity asked for protection and the government sent sev- 
eral companies of the fourteenth regiment to quiet their 
fears. The matter was however adjusted between the In- 
dian agent and the Chippewas without further trouble. 

INDIAN The Indians, once so numerous in Min- 

RESERVATIONS nesota, are now reduced to about 11,- 
532, most of whom belong to the Cnip- 
pewa tribe. The Indian lands comprise about one and one- 
Iialf million acres included in the reservations at Eed Lake, 
Leech Lake, Pigeon Point, Lake Vermillion and White 
Earth. Here are churches and schools. Many of the In- 
dians of the state, having acquired a good education, are 
engaged in farming and other industrial pursuits. 



162- 



CHAPTER XIX 

RECENT LEGISLATION 

COUNTY OPTION One of the legislative reforms of 
1914-'15 was the bill providing for 
County Option. By this bill, the question of whether the 
sale of intoxicating liquors shall be prohibited in a county 
may be submitted to the people by special election vote when- 
ever a petition signed by a number of voters equal to at 
least twenty-five per cent of all votes cast in the county for 
governor at the last general election, shall be presented to 
the County Auditor. This special election shall take place, 
not less than thirty nor more than forty days after any 
spring, genera], or regular, town and village election. 

After a county has voted on this question, no other 
election under the act can be ordered for a period of three 
years. 

If a majority of the votes cast be for prohibition, tiien 
the operation of all laws authorizing the granting of li- 
censes for sale of intoxicating liquors shall be suspended. 

TEACHERS' The Teachers' Pension bill passed by the 
PENSION legislature of 1914-15 establishes an insur- 

ance and retirement fund for teachers who 
have served not less than twenty years, fifteen of which, in- 
cluding the last five immediately before retirement, must 
have been in Minnesota. 

It is compulsory for all teachers to become members of 

—163— 



the association and its funds are obtained by an assessment 
of members^ donations and legacies, and by a tax of one 
twentieth mill on all proj3erty of the state outside of the 
cities of the first class. 

This bill is applicable to all teachers of the state ex- 
cept those of the cities of the first class. 

MOTHERS' In 1913, this state passed a law which pro- 
PENSIONS vides that a mother who is unable to sup- 
port her children under fourteen years of 
age may receive a pension from the county, not to exceed ten 
dollars a month. This matter under the jurisdiction of the 
Juvenile Court, prevents children of widows or those whose 
fathers are physically disabled or serving criminal sentence, 
from suffering neglect or poverty. 

CHILD LABOR Under the laws of the state, education is 
compulsory for children under sixteen 
years of age and the employment of children in factories 
and industrial lines is closely inspected and every effort is 
made to give minors their right to fit themselves for life. 

LABOR For the benefit of the employed, state 

PROTECTION legislation limits the number of working 
hours in a day, regulates the fire protec- 
tion and sanitary conditions of places of employment. Em- 
ployers are not allowed to use defective machinery and are 
compelled to comply with the law requiring all dangerous 
machinery to be properly covered or guarded. 

STATE FLAG April 4, 1893, the legislature passed an 
act which provided that a committee of six 
ladies be appointed to select a flag for our state. This com- 
mittee after considering different patterns submitted, adopted 
one prepared by Mrs. Edw. H. Centre of Minneapolis. 

This design conforms to the provision of the act of 
the legislature which advised that, "There shall be a white 

— 16i— 



ground with reverse side of blue. The centre of the white 
ground shall be occupied by a design substantially embody- 
ing the form of the seal employed as the state seal of Min- 
nesota at the time of its admission into the Union. The 
said design of the state seal shall be surrounded by appro- 
priate representations of the moccasin flower, 

, and appropriately 

arranged on the said white ground shall be nineteen stars, 
emblematic of the fact that Minnesota was the nineteenth 
state to be admitted into the Union after its formation by 
the thirteen original states. There shall also appear at the 
bottom of the flag, in the white ground, so as to be plainly 
visible, the word "Minnesota.'' This original flag, embroi- 
dered in silk, with its staff surmounted by the gopher typi- 
fying "the Gopher State," and tied with a golden cord and 
tassel, may be seen at the State Capitol. 

STATE FLOWER In 1893, the Women's Auxiliary to the 
World's Fair urged the adoption of a 
floral emblem for our state, which could be used for decor- 
ative purposes. The Wild Lady Slipper or Moccasin Flow- 
er which is of peculiar shape and a variety of beautiful col- 
ors, was selected. The yellow, and the pink and white var- 
iety are most common in Minnesota. It is sometimes called 
Indian Shoe from the shape of its blossom. 

CONCLUSION Sixty years has seen in Minnesota a mar- 
velous transformation from a wilderness 
inhabited by roaming bands of savages to a prosperous com- 
monwealth which in scenic beauty, natural resources, and 
commercial advantages is unrivalled. 

Fortunate is the boy or girl whose youth is spent in 
an environment where Nature has been so benevolent and 
where She has afforded such liberal opportunities for mental, 
physical and moral growth — 

Hail to Minnesota! 

—165— 



State Governors of Minnesota 



Henry H. Sibley May 24, 1858-Jan. 2, 1860 

Alexander Eamsey Jan. 2, 1860- July 10, 1863 

Henry A. Swift July 10, 1863-Jan. 11, 1864 

Stephen Miller Jan. 11, 1864-Jan. 8, 1866 

Wm. E. Marshall Jan. 8, 1866- Jan. 9, 1870 

Horace Austin Jan. 9, 1870-Jan. 7, 1874 

Cushman K. Davis Jan. 7, 1874-Jan. 7, 1876 

John I. Pillsbury Jan. 7, 1876-Jan. 10, 1882 

Lucius F. Hubbard Jan. 10, 1882-Jan. 5, 1887 

Wm. E. Merriam Jan. 9, 1889- Jan. 4, 1893 

Knute Nelson Jan. 4, 1893- Jan. 31, 1895 

David M. Clough Jan. 31, 1895-Jan. 2, 1899 

John Lind Jan. 2, 1899-Jan. 7, 1901 

Samuel E. Van Sant Jan. 7, 1901-Jan. 4, 1905 

John A. Johnson Jan. 4, 1905-Sept. 20, 1909 

Adolph 0. Eberhart Sept. 21, 1909-Jan. 4, 1915 

Winfield Scott Hammond Jan. 4, 1915-Dec. 30, 1915 

J. A. A. Burnquist Dec. 30, 1915- 



—166- 



INDEX 

Chapter 1. 

Geography of Minnesota. 
Chapter 2. 

Indians. 
Chapter 3. 

Early French Explorations 

1608-1763. 

Champlain 

Grosseilliers and Eadisson 

Fur traders 

Jesuits 

Du Luth 

Marquette and Joliet 

La Salle 

Hennepin 

Le Sueur 
Chapter 4. 

Enoiish Explorations 

1763-1783. 

Jonathan Carver 
Chapter 5. 

Early Explorations and Occupation by the Uniled 

States Government 

1783-1838. 

Pike's Journey 

Fur Trading Companies 

Fort Snelling 

First Flour Mill 

Major Taliaferro 

Major Long's Expedition 

First Steamboat 

Mails 

Selkirk 

Swiss Immigration 

—167— 



War Between jib ways and Dakotas 

School Craft 

Treaty of 1837 
Chapter 6. 

Settlement and Government as a Territory 

1839-1858 

Joseph Brown and Stillwater 

Military Reservation 

Liquor Traffic 

Chape] of St. Paul 

First Post Office in St. Paul 

Battle of Kaposia 

Territory Organized 

Government of Territory 

Missionaries 

Pembina Carts 

Stage Routes 

Treaty of 1858 

Early Settlements 

Panic of 1857 

Attempt to Remove Capital 
Chapter 7. 

Organization as a State 

1858-1860 

Admission 

State Aid for Railroads 

First Legislature 

Second Legislature 
Chapter 8. 

Civil War 

1860-1865 
Chapter 9. 

Indian Outbreak 

1862 
Chapter 10. 

State Development 

1865 

—168— 



Disbanding of the Army 
Need of Eailroads 
Panic of 1873 

Chapter 11. 

Agricnltural Development 

Early Experiments in Agriculture ^ 

Minnesota Exhibit at World's Fair, ISTew York 
— Wheat Cultivation — Eed Eiver Valley 
— Bonanza Farms — Oliver Dalyrymple — Grasshop- 
pers — Great Blizzard — Crookston — Fergus Falls — 
Corn — Fruit — Swamp Lands. 

Chapter 12. 

Stock raising 

Dairying — Improved Stock — Creameries — Poultry 

— Bees 
Chapter 13. 

Milling 

First Mill — Middlings Purifier — Washburne Mill — 

Flour Export. 
Chapter 14. 

Lumbering 

Location of Forests — Early Lumbering — Forest 

Fires — Forestry Laws — Present Forest Industries 

— National Parks — Itasca State Park — Inter-State 

Park— Other State Parks. Little Falls— Brainerd 

— Cloquet — Aitkin — P i n e C i t y — International 

Falls. 
Chapter 15. 

Mining and Quarrying 

Iron Eanges — Vermillion Range — Mesaba Eange — 

Duluth — George Stone 

Quarrying — St. Cloud — Sauk Eapids — Watab 
Chapter 16. 

Education 

First School — School System Established — State 

Superintendent of Public Instruction — Disposal of 

School Lands — Leasing of Mineral Lands — Nor- 

—169— 



mal Schools — University — Dr. Cyrus Northrop — 
State Agricultural College — Consolidation of Kur- 
al Schools — High School Improvements — Special 
State Schools. 

Chapter 17. 

Other State Institutions. 

State Prison — Boys' State Training School — Girls' 
Home — State Reformatory — Insane Hospitals and 
Asylums — Soldiers' Home — State Capitol. 

Chapter 18. 

Spanish American War, and Indian Affairs. 
Declaration of War — Organization of Minnesota 
Eegiments. Battle of Leech Lake — Indian Eeser- 
vations. 

Chapter 19. 

Recent Legislation 
County Option 
Teachers' Pension Bill 

Mothers' Pension Bill — Child Labor — Labor Pro- 
tection — State Flag — State Flower. 



—170- 



Oulines in U. S. History 

By RHODA J. EMERY 

of the St. Paul Schools 

— and — 

GEO. F. HOWARD 

Of the University of Minnesota 

This outline is designed for the study of the subject in all 
grades where usually taken up, and for general review work. 
It covers the subject from the discovery of America to Wil- 
son's administration. The discoverers are arranged by nations, 
and the settlement of each colony followed from its founding 
until the Revolutionary war, and a chronological summary of 
the events in its history is given at the close of the lesson. 
The wars are arranged chronologically, giving causes, import- 
ant battles, terms of treaty and results. Our National history 
is divided into periods of development, dissention, and Ration- 
al growth and development, and a class of topics given for 
study that will give a broad, comprehensive view of the sub- 
ject. 

The book is the result of years of experience in teaching 
the subject, and will be found especially helpful in country 
schools where supplementary resources are limited. 

Price twenty-five cents, single copy, postpaid. 

Address all orders and correspondence to 

GEO. F. HOWARD, 
1281 Raymond Avenue, 

St. Paul, Minnesota. 



—171 — 



The Story of Minnesota 

MISS GRACE EMERY 

and 
MISS RHODA EMERY 

of the St. Paul City Schools 

This is a new book just off the press, and is the story of 
Minnesota from the time of the earliest explorations through 
the periods of settlement, development, and progress to the 
present time. . The material for the book has been obtained 
by careful search through reliable sources, and is designed to 
present such material in a manner which shall be interesting' 
to children and to adults as well. It is written in a charming 
style, which will hold the interest of the reader from start to 
finish. 

The book is designed as a history of Minnesota, and also 
is suitable as a supplementary historical reader for grammar 
grades. It should be found in every school library in the state. 
It is a book of 160 pages, bound in cloth. Price seventy-five 
cents per single copy, with a reduction of twenty per cent on 
all orders for five or more copies. 

Address all orders and correspondence to 

GEO. F. HOWARD, 
1281 Raymond Avenue, 

St. Paul, Minnesota. 



172- 



Outlines in Grammar 

By GEO. F. HOWARD 
University of Minnesota 

This book came from the press last March and has been 
well received. The aim of the author has been to simplify 
technical grammar, to present few classifications of the parts 
of speech, and to use common sense methods in dealing with 
the whole subject. Is just the book for the seventh and eighth 
grade classes in grammar, for the Normal Training Class, and 
for summer school use. The book contains a section giving the 
different constructions of more than twenty of our most trou- 
blesome words, and a number of sets of state examination 
questions for final review. The book is designed to be put 
into the hands of the pupils, and with it any live teacher can 
teach the subject and get results. Paper cover, fifty-six pages. 
Price twenty-five cents, single copy postpaid. 

Address ail orders and correspondence to 

GEO. F. HOWARD, 
1281 Raymond Avenue, 

St. Paul, Minnesota. 



173- 



Outlines in Geography 

By MARY E. WHITING, 

Instructor in Geography in the Rochester, Minn., Schools and 

Geo. F. Howard, of the University of Minnesota. 

This book is a concise, compact, and carefully arranged 
outline of the geography of the world. It will be found a prac- 
tical guide and outline to put into the hands of every pupil 
in the class. Where facts are difficult to find, the facts are 
given, but where the matter may be found in an ordinary geog- 
raphy, the outlines simply suggest the topics and leave the 
student to supply the information from his text. The book has 
also been written with a view of making industrial and com- 
mercial geography prominent, which is so important in teaching 
the subject today. The products of a country are carefully 
classified, and the important centers of production and distri- 
bution given. A scheme for drawing the maps of the principal 
countries and grand divisions is given, and this alone is worth 
the price of the book. 

Miss Whiting has had a long experience in teaching the sub- 
ject and in this little book she has compiled the boiled-down 
essentials of geography. A new edition is just off the press. 
Some important additions have been made. 

The book contains ninety-five pages bound in paper. Price 
thirty-five cents, single copy postpaid. 

Address all orders and correspondence to 

GEO. F. HOWARD, 
1281 Raymond Avenue, 

St. Paul, Minnesota. 



—174— 



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